Investigation of Chaotic and Spiking Dynamics in Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers Operating Continuous-Waves and under Current Modulation

This study investigates chaotic and spiking dynamics of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers operating under external optical feedback and emitting at 5.5 μ m and 9 μ m. In order to deepen the understanding, the route to chaos is experimentally studied in the case of continuous-wave and current modulation operation. The non-linear dynamics are analyzed with bifurcation diagrams. While for quasi-continuous wave operation, chaos is found to be more complex, pure continuous wave pumping always leads to the generation of a regular spiking induced low-frequency fluctuations dynamics. In the latter, results show that by combining external optical feedback with periodic forcing and further induced current modulation allows a better control of the chaotic dropouts. This work provides a novel insight into the development of future secure free-space communications based on quantum cascade lasers or unpredictable optical countermeasure systems operating within the two transparency atmospheric windows hence between 3 μ m-5 μ m and 8.5 μ m-11 μ m.