Two new dynamic-state switching phenomena are
experimentally observed in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser
with polarization-preserved external-cavity optical feedback. One
is switching between a steady state and a quasi-periodic state, and
the other is switching between two different steady states. Both
switching phenomena occur in the same polarization and the
switching period is equal to the round-trip time in the external
feedback cavity. The evolution of the two switching phenomena is
experimentally investigated in detail. This work not only enriches
the understanding of laser nonlinear dynamics but also provides
an all-optical alternative for generation of special signals for
possible applications.
Index Terms— Semiconductor lasers, Vertical-cavity surfaceemitting lasers, Nonlinear dynamics, Dynamic-state switching