Broadband chaos generation in a distributed-feedback laser by selecting residual side modes

Chaotic dynamics with spectral broadening is experimentally obtained by selective excitation of residual side modes in a distributed-feedback (DFB) laser. For the single-mode laser that emits only at the main mode when free-running, feedback to a residual side mode is introduced via a fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The FBG feedback suppresses the main mode, selectively excites the residual side mode, and generates broadband chaotic dynamics. Such a chaos of the residual side mode has a broad electrical bandwidth reaching at least 26 GHz, which corresponds to a significant broadening by over 50% when compared with the main mode. The dynamics are attributed entirely to the one selected mode without invoking multimode interactions. The wavelength is tunable beyond 10 nm by using different FBGs. Through avoiding multimode interactions, this approach of broadband chaos generation is potentially simple to model and thus promising for applications.