Phase as well as amplitude dynamics in the complex laser Lorenz model have been studied, in contrast to previous studies limited to intensity (i.e., amplitude only). The topological nature of the chaotic intensity is not modified by a small detuning, although the electric field phase is dramatically altered, showing a steady drift with respect to the frequency of the corresponding steady-state solution in addition to small-scale modulation. For larger detunings at the same pump parameter, where one finds periodic intensity pulsations, there is a similar average drift in the phase leading to spuriously quasiperiodic representations of the attractor. After removal of this average drift (which amounts to a frequency shift) all dynamical variables, including the phase, have the same periodicity.

• Received 27 June 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.38.3128