Self-emergence of robust solitons in a microcavity

Maxwell Rowley, Pierre-Henry Hanzard, Antonio Cutrona, Hualong Bao, Sai T. Chu, Brent E. Little, Roberto Morandotti, David J. Moss, Gian-Luca Oppo, Juan Sebastian Totero Gongora, Marco Peccianti and Alessia Pasquazi ()
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Maxwell Rowley: University of Sussex
Pierre-Henry Hanzard: University of Sussex
Antonio Cutrona: University of Sussex
Hualong Bao: University of Sussex
Sai T. Chu: City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue
Brent E. Little: Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, CAS
Roberto Morandotti: INRS-EMT
David J. Moss: Swinburne University of Technology
Gian-Luca Oppo: University of Strathclyde
Juan Sebastian Totero Gongora: University of Sussex
Marco Peccianti: University of Sussex
Alessia Pasquazi: University of Sussex

Nature, 2022, vol. 608, issue 7922, 303-309

Abstract: Abstract In many disciplines, states that emerge in open systems far from equilibrium are determined by a few global parameters1,2. These states can often mimic thermodynamic equilibrium, a classic example being the oscillation threshold of a laser3 that resembles a phase transition in condensed matter. However, many classes of states cannot form spontaneously in dissipative systems, and this is the case for cavity solitons2 that generally need to be induced by external perturbations, as in the case of optical memories4,5. In the past decade, these highly localized states have enabled important advancements in microresonator-based optical frequency combs6,7. However, the very advantages that make cavity solitons attractive for memories—their inability to form spontaneously from noise—have created fundamental challenges. As sources, microcombs require spontaneous and reliable initiation into a desired state that is intrinsically robust8–20. Here we show that the slow non-linearities of a free-running microresonator-filtered fibre laser21 can transform temporal cavity solitons into the system’s dominant attractor. This phenomenon leads to reliable self-starting oscillation of microcavity solitons that are naturally robust to perturbations, recovering spontaneously even after complete disruption. These emerge repeatably and controllably into a large region of the global system parameter space in which specific states, highly stable over long timeframes, can be achieved.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04957-x

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