Non-stationary characteristics of instability in a single-mode Nd:YVO₄ laser with fiber feedback

Random chaotic burst generation was experimentally observed in a single-mode microchip Nd:YVO₄ laser with fiber feedbark. As the feedback strength was increased, a transition from stable relaxation oscillation state to unstable random chaotic burst state appeared. Furthermore, the non-stationary characteristic of probability association was experimentally identified at the transition of the two states while similar characteristics were reported only by numerical simulations of simple dynamical systems. This implies the general feature of non-stationary property of the dynamic switching between two states at transition. The observed chaotic burst generation and non-stationary nature were reproduced numerically based on the Lang-Kobayashi model.