Nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers
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Semiconductor lasers (or laser diodes) are
important practical devices, widely used in optical communications, optical
signal processing, and life science applications (imaging, sensors, etc.). While
“solitary” diode lasers emit a stable output, under external perturbations
these lasers display a wide range of dynamical behaviors that can be
exploited for applications. The research in our lab is focused in the
influence of optical feedback and/or optical injection. We study the regime
of low-frequency fluctuations, in which the laser intensity exhibits abrupt
and apparently random dropouts that resemble neuronal spikes (see Fig.). We
refer to these dropouts as optical spikes. We are interested in exploring the
similarity of optical spikes and the spikes of biological neurons.
Establishing a connection between these different dynamical systems can offer
new perspectives in both, photonics and neuroscience. Laser-based photonic
neurons can provide a novel, inexpensive and controllable experimental set up
for improving our understanding of neuronal activity. On the other hand,
laser-based photonic neurons can be the building blocks of neuro-inspired,
ultra-fast optical computing devices. We are also interested in extreme optical
pulses (known as optical rogue waves) induced by optical feedback or
injection. Our work is aimed at understanding the mechanisms that trigger
them and finding ways to control and predict them. Another research topic is the possibility
of using optical chaos (generated by optical feedback or injection) for the
development of an incoherent light source specifically designed for reducing
or mitigating speckle in retina double-pass imaging instruments. Recent publications: Quantitative
identification of dynamical transitions in a semiconductor laser with optical
feedback C. Quintero-Quiroz, J. Tiana-Alsina, J. Roma,
M. C. Torrent, and C. Masoller,
Sci. Rep. 6, 37510 (2016). Supplementary information Video T. Sorrentino, C.
Quintero-Quiroz, A. Aragoneses, M. C. Torrent and
C. Masoller, Optics Express 23, 5571 (2015). PhD Thesis: C. Alberto
Quintero Quiroz: Temporal
correlations and dynamical transitions in semiconductor lasers with optical
feedback (March 2017, Supervisors: C. Masoller
and M. C. Torrent). Andres
Aragoneses: Experimental
study of feedback-induced dynamics in semiconductor lasers: from symbolic
analysis to subwavelength position sensing (June 2014,
Supervisors: M. C. Torrent and C. Masoller). Video Funding: ITN BEOPTICAL (H2020-675512) ITN NETT (FP7 289146) Complex physical and biophysical
systems (ComPhysBio, FIS2015-66503-C3-2-P) ICREA ACADEMIA
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Experimental intensity of a semiconductor laser operating in the
low-frequency fluctuations regime induced by external optical feedback. Awards: C.
Masoller was elected Fellow of the
Optical Society (OSA) “For
contributions in the area of nonlinear dynamics of optical systems”. Read
more: OSA
Fellows 2016
C. Masoller with A. Wilner (OSA 2016 President), in
Rochester Our research in the media:
C. Masoller, M. C. Torrent, A. Aragoneses and T.
Sorrentino, in the lab. Our
article in Scientific
Reports (2013) was featured in the printed edition of Terrassa
newspaper (June and July 2013) and in
the digital edition of the national newspaper El Periodico. The
first author, Andres Aragoneses, was interviewed by
the radio and TV Terrassa. Our article in Scientific Reports (2014) was featured in
the printed edition of Terrassa newspaper (September 2014) and in
the digital edition of Investigacion y Ciencia. The first author, Andres
Aragoneses, was interviewed by TV Terrassa. Other videos: http://www.terrassadigital.cat/detall_actualitat/?id=23128&key=e3ecc548eaa1463c25807dfc1d2259e6#.VCqxWxaPvKd |
