Dissipative Light Bullets in Kerr Cavities: Multistability, Clustering, and Rogue Waves

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear optics
• Cavity quantum electrodynamics
• Photonics

Background:

• Dissipative systems can exhibit complex localized structures.
• Kerr cavities are fundamental systems for studying nonlinear optical phenomena.
• Light bullets (LBs) are localized optical fields with potential applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the existence and characteristics of stable dissipative light bullets in Kerr cavities.
• To investigate the formation, stability, and dynamics of these 3D structures.
• To explore the transition to extreme events like rogue waves.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of light propagation in nonlinear Kerr cavities.
• Numerical simulations to observe the formation and evolution of light bullets.
• Bifurcation analysis to understand stability and phase transitions.
• Statistical analysis of pulse amplitude distributions.

Main Results:

• Stable three-dimensional (3D) dissipative light bullets (LBs) were observed in Kerr cavities.
• LBs can exist as isolated entities or in clusters forming distinct 3D patterns.
• Their spatial distribution and number depend on initial conditions; peak power is parameter-dependent.
• Increased injected beam strength destabilizes LBs, leading to giant, short-lived 3D pulses.
• Pulse amplitude statistics show long-tail distributions, indicative of extreme events (rogue waves).

Conclusions:

• Stable 3D dissipative light bullets are a realizable phenomenon in Kerr cavities.
• The observed behavior, including homoclinic snaking, provides a framework for understanding LB formation.
• The transition to extreme events highlights the potential for rogue wave generation in such systems.