Switching Dynamics of Dark Solitons in Kerr Microresonators
Paper in proceeding, 2019

Dissipative Kerr solitons (DKS) are localized structures in optical resonators that arise from a double balance between dispersion and Kerr effect, and linear loss and parametric gain [1]. The periodic nature of DKS corresponds to frequency combs. DKS can be generated in high-Q microresonators for diverse applications, from coherent communications to precision frequency synthesis [1]. Most studies of DKS have focused on microresonator cavities operating in the anomalous dispersion regime, where the waveforms correspond to bright soliton pulses. Coherent microresonator combs can also be formed in the normal dispersion regime [2]. The time-domain waveform corresponds to a localized dark-pulse structure, interpreted as two interlocked switching waves connecting the two branches of the bi-stability curve in continuous-wave-pumped Kerr resonators [2, 3]. Each switching wave connects the two branches following an oscillating behavior. These type of Kerr combs are relevant for practical applications because they display unusually high power-conversion efficiency [4, 5], but their physical dynamics remain largely unexplored. Here, we report the discovery of deterministic switching of dark pulse Kerr combs, where the number of oscillations that appear between the switching waves can be either increased or decreased one at a time. The switching dynamics observed here have intriguing similarities to the switching behavior of bright temporal solitons in anomalous dispersion microresonators [6], and they indicate that dark pulse Kerr combs arise as a complex interplay of dark solitons circulating in the cavity.

Author

Seyedeh Bentolhoda Nazemosadat Arsanjani

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics

Attila Fülöp

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics

Òskar Bjarki Helgason

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics

Pei-Hsun Wang

Purdue University

Yi Xuan

Purdue University

Dan. E. Leaird

Purdue University

Minghao Qi

Purdue University

Enrique Silvestre

Universitat de Valencia

Andrew M. Weiner

Purdue University

Victor Torres Company

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics

Optics InfoBase Conference Papers

21622701 (eISSN)

Vol. Part F143-EQEC 2019 2019-ef_8_4
978-1-7281-0469-0 (ISBN)

2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and European Quantum Electronics
Munich, Germany,

Mikroresonatorbaserade frekvenskamsgeneratorer för koherent kommunikation

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2016-03960), 2017-01-01 -- 2020-12-31.

Dark-Soliton Engineering in Microresonator Frequency Combs (DarkComb)

European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/771410), 2018-05-01 -- 2023-04-30.

Subject Categories

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

Other Physics Topics

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

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Latest update

10/7/2024