Adaptive mode selection based on chaotic search in a Fabry-Perot laser diode

This paper describes mode-transition dynamics of a compound-cavity, multimode, Fabry-Perot (FP) semiconductor laser and the basic idea of adaptive wavelength section using chaotic search. In the presence of external feedback, the laser is shown to exhibit different modecompetition dynamics including single-mode, multistability, and chaotic mode-transition states. A chaotic search technique is proposed to adaptively select a dominant lasing mode which fits the environment by switching a control parameter (feedback level or bias injection) between multistability and chaotic mode-transition states. The effectiveness of the adaptive mode selection is verified through a computer simulation and the robustness as well as the experimental implementation of the technique are discussed.