In a liquid crystal bistable optical device with a delayed feedback, chaos and higher-harmonic bifurcation are studied.
In the period three window, the behavior of higher-harmonic solutions is investigated with the change of light intensity and feedback delay time.
Higher-harmonic bifurcation and hysterisis is observed experimentally as the light intensity is changed. Experimental results and computer simulations show that there exists hysterisis between period three and period four solution, and between the fundamental and higher-harmonic solution.
Next, transitions between the higher-harmonic solutions are observed as the feedback delay time is decreased.