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Rapid Repetition Rate Fluctuation Measurement of Soliton Crystals in a Microresonator
Published on: December 15, 2021
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Mode spectrum and temporal soliton formation in optical microresonators
1Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Physical Review Letters
|October 4, 2014
Summary
Temporal dissipative solitons in optical microresonators create ultrashort pulses and optical frequency combs. Microresonator mode structure critically influences soliton formation, with avoided mode crossings hindering the process.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear Optics
- Microresonator Photonics
- Optical Frequency Combs
Background:
- Temporal dissipative solitons in optical microresonators are key for generating ultrashort pulses and broadband optical frequency combs.
- Understanding the influence of microresonator properties on soliton formation is crucial for advancing these light sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the microresonator mode spectrum on temporal soliton formation.
- To identify design criteria for optimizing temporal soliton generation in crystalline microresonators.
Main Methods:
- Experimental study using a crystalline MgF2 microresonator.
- Numerical simulations based on nonlinear coupled mode equations.
- Analysis of microresonator mode structure and dispersion properties.
Main Results:
- Anomalous group velocity dispersion is necessary but higher-order dispersion can be tolerated if it doesn't dominate the mode structure.
- Avoided mode crossings, caused by linear mode coupling near the pump laser frequency, prevent temporal soliton formation.
- Experimental observations align with numerical simulation results.
Conclusions:
- The microresonator mode spectrum significantly dictates temporal soliton formation.
- Specific spectral features, like avoided mode crossings, can inhibit soliton generation.
- This study provides essential design guidelines for creating temporal solitons in optical microresonators.
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