Eigenmodes of the dynamically coupled twin-stripe semiconductor laser

The twin-stripe semiconductor laser is analyzed theoretically through the nonlinear eigenmodes of the spatiotemporal distribution of the output intensity. The transverse laser modes in three spatiotemporal regimes are identified as a function of stripe separation: the regime of quasi-isolated independently operating laser stripes leading to a continuous-wave output, the intermediate regime with the laser displaying chaotically pulsating signals, and the strong-coupling regime with high-frequency more regular oscillations due to a reduced number of active spatiotemporal degrees of freedom.