Intensity coupling and synchronization of chaotic lasers

The synchronization of chaotic lasers was studied considering the coupling scheme with the intensity of light pulses from one laser saturating the other one. The experimental synchronization of two single mode CO2 lasers with saturable absorber is reviewed. Numerical simulations are presented for diode lasers made chaotic by optical feedback. Optical intensity saturation coupling was introduced in Lang-Kobayashi equations. Parameters were chosen such that both lasers were uncorrelated and chaotic before coupling and partially synchronize after coupling. Correlation functions for the numerical solutions were used to characterize the properties of the synchronism. They show partial in-phase and antiphase synchronism for the pulse intensities, depending on the coupling mechanism. These synchronisms are independent of optical interferometric effects and so, relevant for communication applications. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.