Limit-Cycle Dynamics with Reduced Sensitivity to Perturbations

Limit-cycle oscillators are used to model a broad range of periodic nonlinear phenomena. Using the optically injected semiconductor laser as a paradigmatic example, we demonstrate that at specific operating points, the period-one oscillation frequency is simultaneously insensitive to multiple perturbation sources. In our system these include the temperature fluctuations experienced by the master and slave lasers as well as fluctuations in the bias current applied to the slave laser. Tuning of the oscillation frequency then depends only on the injected optical field amplitude. Experimental measurements are in detailed quantitative agreement with numerical modeling. These special operating points should prove valuable for developing ultra-stable nonlinear oscillators, such as a narrow-linewidth, frequency-tunable photonic microwave oscillator.