title: Delay-induced excitability.
abstract: We analyze the stochastic dynamics of a bistable system under the influence of time-delayed feedback. Assuming an asymmetric potential, we show the existence of a regime in which the system dynamics displays excitability by calculating the relevant residence time distributions and power spectra. Experimentally we then observe this behavior in the polarization dynamics of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser with optoelectronic feedback. Extending these observations to two-dimensional systems with diffusive coupling, we finally show numerically that delay-induced excitability can lead to the appearance of propagating wave fronts and spirals.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, National University of Ireland, University College Cork.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Piwonski
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Houlihan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huyet
mesh_terms: D005246:Feedback; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013269:Stochastic Processes