Suppressing spatiotemporal lasing instabilities with wave-chaotic microcavities
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Spatiotemporal instabilities are widespread phenomena resulting from complexity and nonlinearity. In broad-area edge-emitting semiconductor lasers, the nonlinear interactions of multiple spatial modes with the active medium can result in filamentation and spatiotemporal chaos. These instabilities degrade the laser performance and are extremely challenging to control. We demonstrate a powerful approach to suppress spatiotemporal instabilities using wave-chaotic or disordered cavities. The interference of many propagating waves with random phases in such cavities disrupts the formation of self-organized structures such as filaments, resulting in stable lasing dynamics. Our method provides a general and robust scheme to prevent the formation and growth of nonlinear instabilities for a large variety of high-power lasers.
Date Issued
2018-09-21
Date Acceptance
2018-08-01
Citation
Science, 2018, 361 (6408), pp.1225-1230
ISSN
0036-8075
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Start Page
1225
End Page
1230
Journal / Book Title
Science
Volume
361
Issue
6408
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works http://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuseThis is an article distributed under the terms of the Science Journals Default License.
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000445152500035&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/L024926/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
AREA SEMICONDUCTOR-LASERS
EXTERNAL-CAVITY
OPTICAL FEEDBACK
DIODE-LASER
DYNAMICS
FILAMENTATION
STABILIZATION
EMISSION
SYSTEMS
FIELD
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-08-16