title: Phase diagram and complexity of mode-locked lasers: from order to disorder.
abstract: We investigate mode-locking processes in lasers displaying a variable degree of structural randomness. By a spin-glass theoretic approach, we analyze the mean-field Hamiltonian and derive a phase diagram in terms of pumping rate and degree of disorder. Paramagnetic (noisy continuous wave emission), ferromagnetic (standard passive mode locking), and spin-glass phases with an exponentially large number of configurations are identified. The results are also relevant for other physical systems displaying a random Hamiltonian, such as Bose-condensed gases and nonlinear optics.
authors.affiliation: Research center SMC INFM-CNR, c/o Università di Roma Sapienza, I-00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leuzzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Folli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angelani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruocco