Complex spatio-temporal dynamics in the near-field of a broad-area semiconductor laser

. -- We present the combination of microscopic model calculations and direct experimental evidence for complex spatio-temporal dynamics on a picosecond timescale in the nearfield of a broad-area semiconductor laser induced by the interplay of self-focusing, di#raction, and spatial hole burning. We demonstrate the formation of migrating optical filaments within the turn-on dynamics of such a laser and characterize the resulting spatio-temporal complexity via spatio-temporal cross-correlation functions. The study of optical systems which show the formation of spatio-temporal patterns in the transverse direction is of great current interest [1]-[4]. Among those, the broad-area semiconductor laser plays an important role [5]. Being designed as a semiconductor laser with high output power, the broad-area laser has large technological relevance. However, the increase in output power which is achieved by enlarging the transverse width of the active area to typical sizes of w =50mmto500mm res...