Spatio-temporal dynamics due to competing spatial instabilities in a coupled LCLV feedback system

Abstract We investigate the effects of competing spatial instabilities on the dynamics of transverse pattern formation in nonlinear optical feedback systems. In order to control the threshold intensities of two unstable wave numbers, a diffractive feedback is set up with a liquid crystal light valve as dispersive nonlinearity and two incoherently coupled feedback loops of different lengths. In agreement with the results of a linear stability analysis, we found a region where a coexistence of spatial instabilities leads to a complex spatio-temporal behaviour dominated by irregular oscillations between the wave numbers involved.

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