Nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers with mutual optoelectronic coupling

Mutually coupled oscillators are currently of great interest because of the important insight they provide into coupled physical, chemical, and biological systems. Two semiconductor lasers with optoelectronic feedback are used as two nonlinear oscillators, and the effect of mutual coupling on these lasers is found to be significant. Depending on the operating conditions, mutual coupling can act as a negative feedback to stabilize the coupled oscillators, or it can increase the complexity of the system inducing a highly complex chaos. A quasi-periodicity and period-doubling bifurcation, or a mix of them, is found in such a system. Although the chaotic waveforms are very complex with broad spectra, a high quality of synchronization between the chaotic waveforms is observed. Such synchronization is achieved because of the effect of mutual coupling and the symmetric design between the two lasers. It is found that the time delay of coupling plays an important role on the dynamics and synchronization in the mutually coupled semiconductor lasers.