The first goal of this proposal is to employ recently developed mathematical measures to study these chimera states, and provide quantitative evidence for the observed dynamics. Our approach will be to utilize analogous findings from the fields of mechanical and biological systems, where chimera states are typically observed, in order to better understand their occurrence in semiconductor laser arrays. In this way, starting with numerical results obtained from the solution of appropriate mathematical models, we will be able to propose experimental setups, where these phenomena can not only be observed, but also predicted and controlled to enhance the output and efficiency of these laser systems.