Nonlinear Dynamics of Two-State Quantum Dot Lasers under Optical Feedback

A modified rate equation model was presented to theoretically investigate the nonlinear dynamics of solitary two-state quantum dot lasers (TSQDLs) under optical feedback. The simulated results showed that, for a TSQDL biased at a relatively high current, the ground-state (GS) and excited-state (ES) lasing of the TSQDL can be stimulated simultaneously. After introducing optical feedback, both GS lasing and ES lasing can exhibit rich nonlinear dynamic states including steady state (S), period one (P1), period two (P2), multi-period (MP), and chaotic (C) state under different feedback strength and phase offset, respectively, and the dynamic states for the two lasing types are always identical. Furthermore, the influences of the linewidth enhancement factor (LEF) on the nonlinear dynamical state distribution of TSQDLs in the parameter space of feedback strength and phase offset were also analyzed. For a TSQDL with a larger LEF, much more dynamical states can be observed, and the parameter regions for two lasing types operating at chaotic state are widened after introducing optical feedback.