Phase Instability as a Source of Modal Dynamics in Semiconductor Lasers

Abstract

Thanks to a new derivation of the fundamental equations governing multimode dynamics for a semiconductor laser near its threshold, we identify regimes of existence of a pure phase instability (and of a mixed phase-amplitude turbulence regime) which give an alternative satisfactory interpre- tation of the deterministic multimode dynamics observed in some devices. The existence of intrinsic noise generated by the phase instability reconciles in the same description the deterministic and random features of the semiconductor dynamics.