Round-Trip-Time Nonlinear Dynamics of Electro-Optically-Controlled Solid State Lasers

We show numerically and analytically that the technique using a combination of optoelectronic feedback loops allows one to realize new time scale regimes in solid state lasers. In a self mode-locked laser, the combination of negative and positive feedback enables the realization of nonlinear dynamics similar to the logistic map. In quasi-CW mode, the combination leads to a laser output in the form of a square wave with a period of two cavity-round-trip times. The proposed approach paves the way to a regular pulsation with a period of three or four cavity-round-trip times as well.