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  • Review Article
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Physics and applications of laser diode chaos

Nature Photonics volume 9, pages 151–162 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

This Review Article provides an overview of chaos in laser diodes by surveying experimental achievements in the area and explaining the theory behind the phenomenon. The fundamental physics underpinning laser diode chaos and also the opportunities for harnessing it for potential applications are discussed. The availability and ease of operation of laser diodes, in a wide range of configurations, make them a convenient testbed for exploring basic aspects of nonlinear and chaotic dynamics. It also makes them attractive for practical tasks, such as chaos-based secure communications and random number generation. Avenues for future research and development of chaotic laser diodes are also identified.

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Figure 1: Chaos properties and chaos in lasers.
Figure 2: Configurations for achieving chaos in laser diode.
Figure 3: Chaos synchroniz ation and chaos communication using laser diodes.
Figure 4: Random number generation (RNG) using chaos from a laser diode.
Figure 5: The state-of-the-art of random number generation using chaos from a laser diode.

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Acknowledgements

M.S. acknowledges the financial support provided by Fondation Supélec, Conseil Régional de Lorraine, Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) through the project TINO, grant number ANR-12-JS03-005, FEDER through the project PHOTON, and the Inter-University Attraction Pole (IAP) program of BELSPO through the project Photonics@be, grant number IAP P7/35. K.A.S. acknowledges the financial support provided by the Sêr Cymru National Research Network in Advanced Engineering and Materials.

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  1. CentraleSupélec, Laboratoire Matériaux Optiques, Photonique et Systèmes (LMOPS) (CentraleSupélec/Université de Lorraine) and Optics and Electronics (OPTEL) Research Group, 2 Rue Edouard Belin, 57070, Metz, France

    M. Sciamanna

  2. Bangor University, School of Electronic Engineering, Dean Street, Bangor, LL57 1UT, UK

    K. A. Shore

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  1. M. Sciamanna
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Correspondence to M. Sciamanna.

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Sciamanna, M., Shore, K. Physics and applications of laser diode chaos. Nature Photon 9, 151–162 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.326

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