Formation and Collision of Multistability-Enabled Composite Dissipative Kerr Solitons

Abstract

Multistability in Kerr resonators which are driven by continuous or modulated optical waves gives rise to the superposition of distinct nonlinear states, yielding a unique platform for studying complex soliton dynamics. Here, by pumping a crystalline microresonator with two lasers that are frequency detuned from each other by one or multiple cavity free spectral ranges, we go beyond the traditional bichromatic pumping framework and enter an unexplored multistability regime that allows observing novel dynamics including composite solitons and successive soliton collisions. We generate complex frequency comb patterns, observing the velocity mismatch between the solitons and the dual-pumping-induced lattice traps and showing the synchronization of the repetition rates of constituent distinct solitons under the influence of index-barrier-induced intersoliton repulsion. We also demonstrate soliton collisions and observe transient soliton response with spectral analysis and ultrafast imaging, highlighting the eigenfrequency of dissipative soliton dynamics that coincides the "soliton (S) resonance." Furthermore, we exploit the higher-order dispersion effect to manipulate the intrinsic group velocity mismatch between distinct solitons and demonstrate reversible switching between the composite soliton state and the soliton collisional state. Our findings bring to light the rich physics of the Kerr multistability and may equally be useful in microcombbased spectroscopy and metrology.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking of dissipative optical solitons in a two-component Kerr resonator

“…,QWHQVLW\QRUPDOL]HG CSs can undergo SSB in a two-component Kerr resonator, giving rise to coexistence between two distinct, asymmetric vector soliton states. We must emphasize that, being based on a spontaneous symmetry breaking phenomenon, these dynamics are fundamentally different compared to other scenarios where explicitly broken symmetries have been shown to lead to multiplexing of distinct quasi-scalar soliton states [9,29,31,53].…”

Spontaneous symmetry breaking of dissipative optical solitons in a two-component Kerr resonator

“…1 and 2 : CSs can undergo SSB in a two-component Kerr resonator, giving rise to coexistence between two distinct, mirror-like vector soliton states. We must emphasize that, being based on a SSB phenomenon, these dynamics are fundamentally different compared to other scenarios where explicitly broken symmetries have been shown to lead to multiplexing of distinct quasi-scalar soliton states 9 , 29 , 31 , 62 .…”

Collective synthesis and dissociation of soliton molecules in parallel optical-soliton reactors

“…Compared with other platforms commonly used in the study of soliton dynamics, such as microresonators 8,9,13,29 , passive bre loops 31,38 , and solid-state mode-locked lasers 11,12 , optoacoustically mode-locked bre lasers 14 offer several advantages, including high exibility and simple con guration with no need of external driving or feedback control. The long bre cavity dissected by the self-organized optomechanical lattice not only accommodate large number of solitons (with possibility of further expansion using longer cavity), but also tolerate the group velocity discrepancies between different solitonic elements, leading to well-isolated and fully-manipulated parallel soliton reactions for the rst time.…”

“…Naturally, interactions between solitons in bres 4,5 were brought under spotlight as critical limitations or mechanisms in these applications, leading to a heap of progresses since 1980s. The studies on soliton interactions continue to date and are currently experiencing a vibrant renaissance, partly due to developments of the timestretched dispersive Fourier transform (DFT) method 6 which facilitates resolving of transient soliton dynamics, as well as due to trending focuses on soliton microresonators [7][8][9] which, as novel platforms, advance rapidly toward chip-scale integration. In parallel, many light-matter analogies have been suggested for multi-soliton complexes bound by soliton interactions [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] , epitomized by the "soliton molecules" 17,18 which refers to closely bound solitons through direct interactions [19][20][21][22] .…”