Driven bright solitons on a mid-infrared laser chip

Dmitry Kazakov (), Theodore P. Letsou, Marco Piccardo, Lorenzo L. Columbo, Massimo Brambilla, Franco Prati, Sandro Dal Cin, Maximilian Beiser, Nikola Opačak, Pawan Ratra, Michael Pushkarsky, David Caffey, Timothy Day, Luigi A. Lugiato, Benedikt Schwarz and Federico Capasso ()
Additional contact information
Dmitry Kazakov: Harvard University
Theodore P. Letsou: Harvard University
Marco Piccardo: Harvard University
Lorenzo L. Columbo: Politecnico di Torino
Massimo Brambilla: Università e Politecnico di Bari
Franco Prati: Università dell’Insubria
Sandro Dal Cin: TU Wien
Maximilian Beiser: TU Wien
Nikola Opačak: Harvard University
Pawan Ratra: Harvard University
Michael Pushkarsky: DRS Daylight Solutions
David Caffey: DRS Daylight Solutions
Timothy Day: DRS Daylight Solutions
Luigi A. Lugiato: Università dell’Insubria
Benedikt Schwarz: Harvard University
Federico Capasso: Harvard University

Nature, 2025, vol. 641, issue 8061, 83-89

Abstract: Abstract Despite the continuing progress in integrated optical frequency comb technology1, compact sources of short, bright pulses in the mid-infrared wavelength range from 3 to 12 μm so far remain beyond reach. The state-of-the-art ultrafast pulse emitters in the mid-infrared are complex, bulky and inefficient systems based on the downconversion of near-infrared or visible pulsed laser sources. Here we show a purely DC-driven semiconductor laser chip that generates 1-ps solitons at the centre wavelength of 8.3 μm at GHz repetition rates. The soliton generation scheme is akin to that of passive nonlinear Kerr resonators2. It relies on a fast bistability in active nonlinear laser resonators, unlike traditional passive mode-locking, which relies on saturable absorbers3, or active mode-locking by gain modulation in semiconductor lasers4. Monolithic integration of all components—drive laser, active ring resonator, coupler and pump filter—enables turnkey generation of bright solitons that remain robust for hours of continuous operation without active stabilization. Such devices can be readily produced at industrial laser foundries using standard fabrication protocols. Our work unifies the physics of active and passive microresonator frequency combs while simultaneously establishing a technology for nonlinear integrated photonics in the mid-infrared5.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08853-y

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