Synchronization of chaos in an array of three lasers

Synchronization of the chaotic intensity fluctuations of three modulated Nd:YAG lasers oriented in a linear array with either a modulated pump or loss is investigated experimentally, numerically, and analytically. Experimentally, synchronization is only seen between the two outer lasers, with little synchrony between outer and inner lasers. Using a false nearest-neighbors method, we numerically estimate the experimental system dynamics to be five dimensional, which is in good agreement with analytical results. Numerically, synchronization is only seen between the two outer lasers, which matches the experimental data well. Lack of synchrony between outer and inner lasers, is explained analytically and then we numerically investigate loss of synchronization of the outer two lasers, observing the occurrence of a blowout bifurcation. Finally, the effects of noise and symmetry breaking are examined and discussed.