Different types of chaos in an optically injected semiconductor laser

With advanced tools from bifurcation theory routes to chaos via period doubling and the break-up of tori are identified. This allows us to distinguish between different types of chaos in terms of the output characteristics of the laser. We also find locking to a periodic solution inside a region of chaos. This information is important for applications requiring chaotic signals, such as encryption schemes. ©2000 American Institute of Physics