Dynamical control of a chaotic laser: Experimental stabilization of a globally coupled system

Abstract

A multimode, autonomously chaotic solid-state laser system has been controlled by the technique of occassional proportional feedback, related to the control scheme of Ott, Grebogi, and Yorke. We show that complex periodic wave forms can be stabilized in the laser output intensity. A detailed model of the system is not necessary. Our results indicate that this control technique may be widely applicable to autonomous, higher-dimensional chaotic systems, including globally coupled arrays of nonlinear oscillators.