Bound Pulse Trains in Arrays of Coupled Spatially Extended Dynamical Systems

Multiple equilibrium states in pure-quartic soliton molecules

In this Letter, we demonstrate the existence of multiple equilibrium states in pure-quartic soliton (PQS) molecules. A discrete sequence of equilibrium separations alternating between stable and unstable states is theoretically predicted and numerically identified in the PQS doublet and triplet states. Furthermore, a systematic family tree of stable bound PQSs is constructed to facilitate the understanding of a hierarchical structure of stationary PQS molecules, thus allowing for the on-demand mixture of arbitrary orders of equilibrium separations and relative phase (in- or anti-phase) between adjacent PQSs. As typical examples, stable evolutions of the constructed four- and five-PQS molecules over distances are validated by the numerical simulations. These results can broaden the fundamental understanding of the interaction between PQSs and the intrinsic dynamics of PQS molecules, which also provides an avenue to manipulate the optical soliton compounds (macromolecules, crystals, etc.) in nonlinear optics.

Spectral principle for frequency synchronization in repulsive laser networks and beyond

Network synchronization of lasers is critical for achieving high-power outputs and enabling effective optical computing. However, the role of network topology in frequency synchronization of optical oscillators and lasers remains not well understood. Here, we report our significant progress toward solving this critical problem for networks of heterogeneous laser model oscillators with repulsive coupling. We discover a general approximate principle for predicting the onset of frequency synchronization from the spectral knowledge of a complex matrix representing a combination of the signless Laplacian induced by repulsive coupling and a matrix associated with intrinsic frequency detuning. We show that the gap between the two smallest eigenvalues of the complex matrix generally controls the coupling threshold for frequency synchronization. In stark contrast with attractive networks, we demonstrate that local rings and all-to-all networks prevent frequency synchronization, whereas full bipartite networks have optimal synchronization properties. Beyond laser models, we show that, with a few exceptions, the spectral principle can be applied to repulsive Kuramoto networks. Our results provide guidelines for optimal designs of scalable optical oscillator networks capable of achieving reliable frequency synchronization.

Short- and long-range temporal cavity soliton interaction in delay models of mode-locked lasers

Interaction equations governing slow time evolution of the coordinates and phases of two interacting temporal cavity solitons in a delay differential equation model of a nonlinear mirror mode-locked laser are derived and analyzed. It is shown that long-range soliton interaction due to gain depletion and recovery can lead either to a development of a harmonic mode-locking regime or to a formation of closely packed incoherent soliton bound state with weakly oscillating intersoliton time separation. Short-range soliton interaction via electric field tails can result in an antiphase or in-phase stationary and breathing harmonic mode-locking regimes.

Topological solitons in arrays of modelocked lasers

We report spatiotemporal topological solitons in an array of modelocked lasers. In its conservative limit, our model reduces to the famous Su-Schrieffer-Heeger system possessing topological states inside the gap of its linear spectrum. We report one-dimensional spatial and two-dimensional spatiotemporal topological solitons, i.e., bullets, with the operational frequencies locked to the values inside the topological gap.

The limits of sustained self-excitation and stable periodic pulse trains in the Yamada model with delayed optical feedback

We consider the Yamada model for an excitable or self-pulsating laser with saturable absorber and study the effects of delayed optical self-feedback in the excitable case. More specifically, we are concerned with the generation of stable periodic pulse trains via repeated self-excitation after passage through the delayed feedback loop and their bifurcations. We show that onset and termination of such pulse trains correspond to the simultaneous bifurcation of countably many fold periodic orbits with infinite period in this delay differential equation. We employ numerical continuation and the concept of reappearance of periodic solutions to show that these bifurcations coincide with codimension-two points along families of connecting orbits and fold periodic orbits in a related advanced differential equation. These points include heteroclinic connections between steady states and homoclinic bifurcations with non-hyperbolic equilibria. Tracking these codimension-two points in parameter space reveals the critical parameter values for the existence of periodic pulse trains. We use the recently developed theory of temporal dissipative solitons to infer necessary conditions for the stability of such pulse trains.

Bound states of light bullets in passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers

In this paper, we analyze the dynamics and formation mechanisms of bound states (BSs) of light bullets in the output of a laser coupled to a distant saturable absorber. First, we approximate the full three-dimensional set of Haus master equations by a reduced equation governing the dynamics of the transverse profile. This effective theory allows us to perform a detailed multiparameter bifurcation study and to identify the different mechanisms of instability of BSs. In addition, our analysis reveals a non-intuitive dependence of the stability region as a function of the linewidth enhancement factors and the field diffusion. Our results are confirmed by direct numerical simulations of the full system.

Topological localized states in the time delayed Adler model: Bifurcation analysis and interaction law

The time-delayed Adler equation is the simplest model for an injected semiconductor laser with coherent injection and optical feedback. It is, however, able to reproduce the existence of topological localized structures (LSs) and their rich interactions. In this paper, we perform the first extended bifurcation analysis of this model and we explore the mechanisms by which LSs emerge. We also derive the effective equations governing the motion of distant LSs and we stress how the lack of parity in time-delayed systems leads to exotic, non-reciprocal, interactions between topological localized states.

Discrete light bullets in passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers

In this paper, we analyze the formation and dynamical properties of discrete light bullets in an array of passively mode-locked lasers coupled via evanescent fields in a ring geometry. Using a generic model based upon a system of nearest-neighbor coupled Haus master equations, we show numerically the existence of discrete light bullets for different coupling strengths. In order to reduce the complexity of the analysis, we approximate the full problem by a reduced set of discrete equations governing the dynamics of the transverse profile of the discrete light bullets. This effective theory allows us to perform a detailed bifurcation analysis via path-continuation methods. In particular, we show the existence of multistable branches of discrete localized states, corresponding to different number of active elements in the array. These branches are either independent of each other or are organized into a snaking bifurcation diagram where the width of the discrete localized states grows via a process of successive increase and decrease of the gain. Mechanisms are revealed by which the snaking branches can be created and destroyed as a second parameter, e.g., the linewidth enhancement factor or the coupling strength is varied. For increasing couplings, the existence of moving bright and dark discrete localized states is also demonstrated.

Temporal Dissipative Solitons in Time-Delay Feedback Systems

Localized states are a universal phenomenon observed in spatially distributed dissipative nonlinear systems. Known as dissipative solitons, autosolitons, and spot or pulse solutions, these states play an important role in data transmission using optical pulses, neural signal propagation, and other processes. While this phenomenon was thoroughly studied in spatially extended systems, temporally localized states are gaining attention only recently, driven primarily by applications from fiber or semiconductor lasers. Here we present a theory for temporal dissipative solitons (TDS) in systems with time-delayed feedback. In particular, we derive a system with an advanced argument, which determines the profile of the TDS. We also provide a complete classification of the spectrum of TDS into interface and pseudocontinuous spectrum. We illustrate our theory with two examples: a generic delayed phase oscillator, which is a reduced model for an injected laser with feedback, and the FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron with delayed feedback. Finally, we discuss possible destabilization mechanisms of TDS and show an example where the TDS delocalizes and its pseudocontinuous spectrum develops a modulational instability.

Light bullets in a time-delay model of a wide-aperture mode-locked semiconductor laser

Recently, a mechanism of formation of light bullets (LBs) in wide-aperture passively mode-locked lasers was proposed. The conditions for existence and stability of these bullets, found in the long cavity limit, were studied theoretically under the mean field (MF) approximation using a Haus-type model equation. In this paper, we relax the MF approximation and study LB formation in a model of a wide-aperture three section laser with a long diffractive section and short absorber and gain sections. To this end, we derive a non-local delay-differential equation (NDDE) model and demonstrate by means of numerical simulations that this model supports stable LBs. We observe that the predictions about the regions of existence and stability of the LBs made previously using MF laser models agree well with the results obtained using the NDDE model. Moreover, we demonstrate that the general conclusions based upon the Haus model that regard the robustness of the LBs remain true in the NDDE model valid beyond the MF approximation, when the gain, losses and diffraction per cavity round trip are not small perturbations anymore.This article is part of the theme issue 'Dissipative structures in matter out of equilibrium: from chemistry, photonics and biology (part 1)'.