Excitability in optically injected semiconductor lasers: Contrasting quantum- well- and quantum-dot-based devices

Excitability is a generic prediction for an optically injected semiconductor laser. However, the details of the phenomenon differ depending on the type of device in question. For quantum-well lasers very complicated multipulse trajectories can be found, while for quantum-dot lasers the situation is much simpler. Experimental observations show the marked differences in the pulse shapes while theoretical considerations reveal the underlying mechanism responsible for the contrast, identifying the increased stability of quantum-dot lasers to perturbations as the root.