Breathing dissipative solitons in optical microresonators.

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear Optics
• Quantum Optics
• Laser Physics

Background:

• Dissipative solitons are self-localized structures arising from a balance between dispersion and nonlinearity, and dissipation and driving forces.
• In Kerr-nonlinear optical resonators, temporal solitons generate light pulses and coherent optical frequency combs.
• These systems can support stationary or breathing dissipative solitons, the latter exhibiting periodic oscillatory behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To deterministically generate and study single and multiple breathing dissipative solitons in coherently driven microresonators.
• To explore the dynamics of soliton breathing and its dependence on control parameters.
• To directly observe the spatiotemporal dynamics of individual solitons and evidence breather synchronization.

Main Methods:

• Generation and study of single and multiple breathing solitons in microresonator platforms.
• Measurement of breathing frequency in relation to pump laser power and effective detuning.
• Fast detection techniques to observe spatiotemporal dynamics of individual solitons.

Main Results:

• A deterministic route to induce soliton breathing was presented.
• Breathing dynamics were explored in two microresonator platforms.
• Transitions to higher periodicity, irregular oscillations, and switching were observed, matching numerical predictions.
• Direct observation of spatiotemporal dynamics provided evidence of breather synchronization.

Conclusions:

• Breathing dissipative solitons were successfully generated and studied using a deterministic approach.
• The study provides insights into the control and dynamics of soliton breathing in microresonators.
• Observed breather synchronization offers potential for improved stability in optical frequency comb generation.