We report on an experimental and numerical study of chaotic behavior in random lasers. The complex emission spectra from a disordered amplifying material with static disorder are investigated in a configuration with controlled, stable experimental conditions. It is found that, upon repeated identical excitation, the emission spectra are distinct and uncorrelated. This behavior can be understood in terms of strongly coupled modes that are triggered by spontaneous emission, and is expected to play an important role in most pulsed random lasers.

• Received 12 February 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.76.033807