Dissipative soliton | EPFL Graph Search

Dissipative solitons (DSs) are stable solitary localized structures that arise in nonlinear spatially extended dissipative systems due to mechanisms of self-organization. They can be considered as an extension of the classical soliton concept in conservative systems. An alternative terminology includes autosolitons, spots and pulses. Apart from aspects similar to the behavior of classical particles like the formation of bound states, DSs exhibit interesting behavior – e.g. scattering, creation and annihilation – all without the constraints of energy or momentum conservation. The excitation of internal degrees of freedom may result in a dynamically stabilized intrinsic speed, or periodic oscillations of the shape. Historical development Origin of the soliton concept DSs have been experimentally observed for a long time. Helmholtz measured the propagation velocity of nerve pulses in 1850. In 1902, Lehmann found the formation of localized anode spots

Protected generation of dissipative Kerr solitons in supermodes of coupled optical microresonators

Mikhail Churaev, Xinru Ji, Tobias Kippenberg, Junqiu Liu, Alexey Tikan, Aleksandr Tusnin, Rui Ning Wang

A photonic dimer composed of two evanescently coupled high-Q microresonators is a fundamental element of multimode soliton lattices. It has demonstrated a variety of emergent nonlinear phenomena, including supermode soliton generation and soliton hopping. Here, we present another aspect of dissipative soliton generation in coupled resonators, revealing the advantages of this system over conventional single-resonator platforms. Namely, we show that the accessibility of solitons markedly varies for symmetric and antisymmetric supermode families. Linear measurements reveal that the coupling between transverse modes, giving rise to avoided mode crossings, can be substantially suppressed. We explain the origin of this phenomenon and show its influence on the dissipative Kerr soliton generation in lattices of coupled resonators of any type. Choosing an example of the topological Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, we demonstrate how the edge state can be protected from the interaction with higher--order modes, allowing for the formation of topological Kerr solitons.

AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE2022

Temporal solitons in optical microresonators

Victor Brasch, Tobias Herr, John David Jost, Tobias Kippenberg

Temporal dissipative solitons in a continuous-wave laser-driven nonlinear optical microresonator were observed. The solitons were generated spontaneously when the laser frequency was tuned through the effective zero detuning point of a high-Q resonance, which led to an effective red-detuned pumping. Transition to soliton states were characterized by discontinuous steps in the resonator transmission. The solitons were stable in the long term and their number could be controlled via pump-laser detuning. These observations are in agreement with numerical simulations and soliton theory. Operating in the single-soliton regime allows the continuous output coupling of a femtosecond pulse train directly from the microresonator. This approach enables ultrashort pulse syntheses in spectral regimes in which broadband laser-gain media and saturable absorbers are not available. In the frequency domain the single-soliton states correspond to low-noise optical frequency combs with smooth spectral envelopes, critical to applications in broadband spectroscopy, telecommunications, astronomy and low noise microwave generation.

Nature Publishing Group2014

Mode Spectrum and Temporal Soliton Formation in Optical Microresonators

Victor Brasch, Tobias Herr, John David Jost, Tobias Kippenberg

The formation of temporal dissipative solitons in optical microresonators enables compact, high-repetition rate sources of ultrashort pulses as well as low noise, broadband optical frequency combs with smooth spectral envelopes. Here we study the influence of the microresonator mode spectrum on temporal soliton formation in a crystalline MgF2 microresonator. While an overall anomalous group velocity dispersion is required, it is found that higher order dispersion can be tolerated as long as it does not dominate the resonator's mode structure. Avoided mode crossings induced by linear mode coupling in the resonator mode spectrum are found to prevent soliton formation when affecting resonator modes close to the pump laser frequency. The experimental observations are in excellent agreement with numerical simulations based on the nonlinear coupled mode equations. The presented results provide for the first time design criteria for the generation of temporal solitons in optical microresonators.

American Physical Society2014