Uniqueness of the chaotic attractor of a single-mode laser

Abstract

Measurements on an optically pumped ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ single-mode laser show three different types of chaotic dynamics, Lorentz-type spiral chaos, period-doubling chaos, and type-III intermittency. Analysis of the measurements shows that the peak-intensity return maps of these three types of dynamics have the same shape, indicating that a unique attractor exists for the laser whose topological structure is independent of laser parameters.