A Route to Robust Double Pulse Excitability in Optically Injected Semiconductor Lasers

TL;DR

This paper models a quantum dot semiconductor laser with optical injection, explaining how single and double intensity pulses arise from bifurcations, providing insights into pulse dynamics relevant for laser applications.

Contribution

It introduces a three-dimensional model that captures the bifurcation mechanisms behind single and double pulse excitability in optically injected semiconductor lasers.

Findings

Single and double pulses are explained by saddle-node homoclinic and period doubling bifurcations.

The model aligns with recent experimental observations of pulse behavior.

A detailed bifurcation scenario unifies the understanding of pulse excitability.

Abstract

We present and analyse a three-dimensional model for a quantum dot semiconductor laser with optical injection. This model describes recent experimental single and double excitable intensity pulses, which are related to a central saddle-node homoclinic bifurcation as in the Adler equation. Double pulses are related to a period doubling bifurcation and occur on the same homoclinic curve as single pulses. The bifurcation scenario consolidating single and double excitable pulses is described in detail.