Uncertainty in interpulse time interval evaluated as a new measure of nonlinear laser dynamics

A variety of dynamical outputs can be generated with an optically injected solid state laser by varying the intensity of the injection from the master into the slave laser, and/or the frequency detuning between the master and slave lasers. The system is capable of generating regular laser pulses with constant amplitude and robust period, as well as irregular pulses with chaotically varying amplitude. We propose that a mapping of the variation in interpulse duration of an optically injected solid state laser is a useful tool to facilitate identification of different dynamical regions within the parameter space.