Influence of feedback phase on time delay signature and chaos bandwidth in a laser subject to dual optical feedback

Abstract

Semiconductor lasers subject to optical feedback can behave chaotically, which can be used as a source of randomness. The optical feedback, provided by mirrors at a distance, determines the characteristics of the chaos and thus the quality of the randomness. However, this fixed distance also shows itself in the intensity, an unwanted feature called the Time Delay Signature (TDS). One promising solution to suppress the TDS is using double optical feedback. We study this system numerically in this paper. In particular, we focus on the impact of the feedback phase, a sub-wavelength change in the position of the mirrors, on the TDS and chaos bandwidth (CBW) of the system. We show that by precisely setting the feedback parameters, including the feedback phases, the TDS can be suppressed, and that the feedback phase control is necessary rather than optional to robustly suppress the TDS. In addition, it is possible to suppress the TDS without loss of the CBW. At strong feedback rates the system can restabilize, and one can switch between a chaotic and steady state by changing only the feedback phase. Finally, we relate the feedback phase sensitivity to interference between the two delayed signals. This system is promising for applications of chaotic lasers as one can either suppress the TDS or increase the CBW.