Abstract:We review the properties of optical spatial dissipative solitons (SDS). These are stable, self-localized optical excitations sitting on a uniform, or quasi-uniform, background in a dissipative environment like a nonlinear optical cavity. Indeed in optics they are often termed 'cavity solitons'. We discuss their dynamics and interactions in both ideal and imperfect systems, making comparison with experiments. SDS in lasers offer important advantages for applications. We review candidate schemes and the tremendo… Show more
“…Numerous examples have been found in nonlinear optical resonators with coherent forcing (they often receive the name of spatial or temporal cavity solitons) [1][2][3][4][5][6] but also in laser systems [7][8][9][10] . In the latter case, the phase of the electric field is free to evolve in the course of time and a paradigmatic model is the cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation 7,[11][12][13] .…”
Optical localized states are usually defined as self-localized bistable packets of light, which exist as independently controllable optical intensity pulses either in the longitudinal or transverse dimension of nonlinear optical systems. Here we demonstrate experimentally and analytically the existence of longitudinal localized states that exist fundamentally in the phase of laser light. These robust and versatile phase bits can be individually nucleated and canceled in an injection-locked semiconductor laser operated in a neuron-like excitable regime and submitted to delayed feedback. The demonstration of their control opens the way to their use as phase information units in next-generation coherent communication systems. We analyse our observations in terms of a generic model, which confirms the topological nature of the phase bits and discloses their formal but profound analogy with Sine-Gordon solitons.
“…Numerous examples have been found in nonlinear optical resonators with coherent forcing (they often receive the name of spatial or temporal cavity solitons) [1][2][3][4][5][6] but also in laser systems [7][8][9][10] . In the latter case, the phase of the electric field is free to evolve in the course of time and a paradigmatic model is the cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation 7,[11][12][13] .…”
Optical localized states are usually defined as self-localized bistable packets of light, which exist as independently controllable optical intensity pulses either in the longitudinal or transverse dimension of nonlinear optical systems. Here we demonstrate experimentally and analytically the existence of longitudinal localized states that exist fundamentally in the phase of laser light. These robust and versatile phase bits can be individually nucleated and canceled in an injection-locked semiconductor laser operated in a neuron-like excitable regime and submitted to delayed feedback. The demonstration of their control opens the way to their use as phase information units in next-generation coherent communication systems. We analyse our observations in terms of a generic model, which confirms the topological nature of the phase bits and discloses their formal but profound analogy with Sine-Gordon solitons.
“…It is possible to go further and find many commonalities between microresonator processes and various nonlinear processes unrelated to optics, such as dipolar excitations in one-dimensional condensates [102], spatial dissipative solitons [103,104], a long Josephson junction in periodic field [105], easy-axis ferromagnets in rotating magnetic field perpendicular to the easy axis [106,107], and plasmas driven with radio frequency radiation [108]. All these processes can be described using similar mathematical techniques and, hence, have somewhat similar dynamics.…”
Optical frequency combs have become indispensable in astronomical measurements, biological fingerprinting, optical metrology, and radio frequency photonic signal generation. Recently demonstrated microring resonator-based Kerr frequency combs point the way towards chip scale optical frequency comb generator retaining major properties of the lab scale devices. This technique is promising for integrated miniature radiofrequency and microwave sources, atomic clocks, optical references and femtosecond pulse generators. Here we present Kerr frequency comb development in a historical perspective emphasizing its similarities and differences with other physical phenomena. We elucidate fundamental principles and describe practical implementations of Kerr comb oscillators, highlighting associated solved and unsolved problems.
“…In particular, LSs could be used as bits for information storage and processing. Several overviews have been published on this active area of research [31,9,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48].…”
We investigate the space-time dynamics of a Vertical-Cavity SurfaceEmitting Laser (VCSEL) subject to optical injection and to delay feedback control. Apart from their technological advantages, broad area VCSELs allow creating localized light structures (LSs). Such LSs, often called Cavity Solitons, have been proposed to be used in information processing, device characterization, and others. After a brief description of the experimental setup, we present experimental evidence of stationary LSs. We then theoretically describe this system using a mean field model. We perform a real order parameter description close to the nascent bistability and close to large wavelength pattern forming regime. We theoretically characterize the LS snaking bifurcation diagram in this framework. The main body of this chapter is devoted to theoretical investigations on the time-delayed feedback control of LSs in VCSELs. The feedback induces a spontaneous motion of the LSs, which we characterize by computing the velocity and the threshold associated with such motion. In the nascent bistability regime, the motion threshold and the velocity
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