Non-Spiking Laser Controlled by a Delayed Feedback

Abstract

In 1965, Statz et al. (J. Appl. Phys. 30, 1510 (1965)) investigated theoretically and experimentally the conditions under which spiking in the laser output can be completely suppressed by using a delayed optical feedback. In order to explore its effects, they formulate a delay differential equation model within the framework of laser rate equations. From their numerical simulations, they concluded that the feedback is effective in controlling the intensity laser pulses provided the delay is short enough. Ten years later, Krivoshchekov et al. (Sov. J. Quant. Electron. 5394 (1975)) reconsidered the Statz et al. delay differential equation and analyzed the limit of small delays. The stability conditions for arbitrary delays, however, were not determined. In this paper, we revisit Statz et al.’s delay differential equation model by using modern mathematical tools. We determine an asymptotic approximation of both the domains of stable steady states as well as a sub-domain of purely exponential transients.