Nonlinear Dynamics of Phase-Locked Semiconductor Laser Arrays

密歇根大学和俄勒冈研究生中心正在合作进行锁相半导体激光阵列非线性时空动力学的理论和实验研究。这些阵列在光通信、光数据记录和稀土固体激光器的光泵浦等应用中作为高功率源具有重要的技术意义。在这个计划中，将研究一组最初独立的激光锁定产生空间相干结构的自组织过程。本文将研究锁相态的稳定性，并设计出提高激光阵列时间稳定性的方法。它们对电流调制的响应也将被研究。当阵列没有实现稳定锁相时，预测的行为包括规则的自脉动、时间混沌结构和充分发展的时空混沌。激光阵列的各种操作机制将通过条纹相机进行表征，该相机允许以2皮秒的时间分辨率实时监测时空现象。这项研究的结果不仅将扩展我们对耦合非线性振荡器的集体行为的理解，而且将有助于技术上对稳定，紧凑，高功率半导体激光源的重要追求。

The University of Michigan and Oregon Graduate Center are collaborating on theoretical and experimental investigation of the nonlinear spatio-temporal dynamics of phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays. These arrays are of great technological importance as high power sources for applications such as optical communications, optical data recording, and optical pumping of rare-earth solid state lasers. In this proposed program, the process of self-organization in which a collection of initially independent lasers lock to produce a spatially coherent structure will be studied. The stability of the phase-locked state will be studied and means will be devised to enhance the temporal stability of laser arrays. Their response to current modulation will also be investigated. When stable phase locking of the array is not achieved, the predicted behavior includes regular self-pulsations, temporally chaotic structures, and full developed spatio-temporal chaos. The various operating regimes of laser arrays will be characterized by means of a streak camera that permits real- time monitoring of spatio-temporal phenomena with a 2-picosecond temporal resolution. The results of this investigation will not only extend our understanding of the collective behavior of coupled nonlinear oscillators but will aid the technologically important quest for stable, compact, high power semiconductor laser sources.