Nonlinear Dynamical Behavior in a Semiconductor Laser System Subject to Delayed Optoelectronic Feedback Final Report: Robert E. Lee Summer Research 2000

We study the nonlinear dynamical behavior of a semiconductor laser subject to delayed optoelectronic feedback. We perform this study by designing a simple electronic circuit whose behavior is governed by the same equations that govern the laser system. The circuit offers important experimental advantages, since it operates with much slower speeds, and has easily tunable parameters. Furthermore, it can be investigated systematically using automated data acquisition and control of system parameters. The dynamics we observe are in good agreement with numerical and theoretical predictions. We also model certain unavoidable limitations of the real laser system by adding a filter to the idealized circuit. The filter induces some changes to the global dynamics, but does not affect the fundamental oscillation frequency of the system.