Adler synchronization of spatial laser solitons pinned by defects

Paulau, P.V. and McIntyre, Craig and Noblet, Yoann and Radwell, Neal Matthew and Firth, William and Colet, Pere and Ackemann, Thorsten and Oppo, Gian-Luca (2012) Adler synchronization of spatial laser solitons pinned by defects. Physical Review Letters, 108 (21). 213904. ISSN 1079-7114 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.213904)

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Abstract

Defects due to growth fluctuations in broad-area semiconductor lasers induce pinning and frequency shifts of spatial laser solitons. The effects of defects on the interaction of two solitons are considered in lasers with frequency-selective feedback both theoretically and experimentally. We demonstrate frequency and phase synchronization of paired laser solitons as their detuning is varied. In both theory and experiment the locking behavior is well described by the Adler model for the synchronization of coupled oscillators.