We investigate numerically the chaotic transient dynamics of a semiconductor laser with time-delayed optical feedback. This transient behavior is seen in the low-frequency fluctuations (LFF) regime ocurring when the laser is pumped close to thereshold and is subjected to moderate feedback strengths. We characterize the transient dynamics in terms of its duration, the time intervals between consecutive dropouts, and the total in each transient event. We statistically analyze these quantities as a function of the noise strength and other system parameters related to different nonlinear mechanisms of light-matter interaction inside the laser active medium.

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