Optical feedback induced nonlinear dynamics in an interband cascade laser

Optical feedback usually gives rise to rich nonlinear dynamics in semiconductor lasers, which are interesting for both physics and applications. In comparison with common quantum well lasers, the laser emission of mid-infrared interband cascade lasers relies on the interband transition of type-II quantum wells. This work experimentally explores the nonlinear dynamics of an interband cascade laser subject to optical feedback. It is found that the interband cascade laser exhibits both periodic oscillations and fully-developed chaos at different feedback ratios.