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Time delayed laser networks: phase versus chaos synchronization

The synchronization of chaotic lasers and the optical phase synchronization of light originating in multiple coupled lasers have both been extensively studied, however, the interplay between these two phenomena, especially at the network level is unexplored. Here we experimentally compare chaos synchronization of laser networks with heterogeneous coupling delay times to phase synchronization of similar networks. While chaotic lasers exhibit deterioration in synchronization as the network time delay heterogeneity increases, phase synchronization is found to be independent of heterogeneity. The experimental results are found to be in agreement with numerical simulations for semiconductor lasers.