Scaling Laws for Dynamical Hysteresis in a Multidimensional Laser System

We examine scaling laws for dynamical hysteresis in an optically bistable semiconductor laser. An analytic derivation of these laws from multidimensional laser equations is outlined and they are expected to be universal for systems that exhibit a cusp catastrophe. The scaling laws for the hysteresis loop area or width are numerically verified and experimentally measured for operation of the bistable laser above and below threshold. Excellent agreement with theory is obtained in the limit of low switching frequencies.