The distributions, in parameter space, of subcritical Hopf bifurcations and the various attractors of time-dependent motions of optical bistable systems are investigated systematically. The main emphasis is placed on the influence of the variations of the control parameters on the distributions. We have observed the tristability of large-amplitude regular or chaotic motions, periodic pulsations, and the stationary state for the parameters where no instability of the stationary solution exists at all over the complete range of the external field. The problem of how to find the various attractors and how to reveal chaotic motions by adjusting the control parameters is discussed according to the numerical results.

• Received 3 August 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.41.3975