Abstract

We investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of an optical system containing a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) with two dimensional feedback and modulated input. Minimising the effect of diffraction in the experiment by imaging the read side of the LCLV on its write side, we consider diffusion and the rotation of the feedback as the main mechanisms for the spatial coupling in our theoretical model. By rotating the feedback by a 180 degree and modulating the input field chaotic dynamics is induced. Because of the diffusion and the transverse boundaries (and experimental inhomogeneities), chaotic domains of in-phase dynamics are formed in different locations of the transverse space. The figure shows a comparison, for appropriate values of the control parameters, between the experimental (panels (a)-(d)) and numerical (panels (e)-(h)) dynamics of the LCLV chaotic domains [1], Note that panels (b)-(d) are enlarged portion of the beam where chaotic domains are formed.

© 1998 IEEE