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		2.6.2— Example of Chaotic Control: The Light Output from a Laser

		Recently, mathematicians have shown how to use small external inputs to control a chaotic system. These new methods have now been successfully used to control electronic and mechanical systems.

		For example, the physical process that generates the light in a laser is chaotic. The intensity of the light produced by the laser varies in time. The output of light depends on the values of control parameters. Roy et al. computed how the values of these control parameters should be changed in time in order to control the output of a laser.

		They used these mathematical predictions to control the light output of a laser by changing the values of the control parameters with time. Without the control input, the intensity of the light output of the laser varied irregularly in time. With the control input, the intensity of the light changed in a regular, periodic way. By changing the control input, they could vary the duration of this period. Only small changes in the control parameters were needed for this control.

		Using only small control inputs they were able to achieve highly accurate control of the light output of the laser.

 

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