Calculation of steady states in dynamical semiconductor laser models

Abstract

We discuss numerical challenges in calculating stable and unstable steady states of widely used dynamical semiconductor laser models. Knowledge of these states is valuable when analyzing laser dynamics and different properties of the lasing states. The example simulations and analysis mainly rely on 1(time)+1(space)-dimensional traveling-wave models, where the steady state defining conditions are formulated as a system of nonlinear algebraic equations. The per- formed steady state calculations reveal limitations of the Lang-Kobayashi model, explain nontrivial bias threshold relations in lasers with several electrical contacts, or predict and explain transient dynamics when simulating such lasers.