Multimode resonance transition to collapsed snaking in normal dispersive Kerr cavities: bright versus dark solitons.

We study the dynamics of Kerr cavity solitons in the normal dispersion regime in the presence of an intracavity phase modulation. The associated parabolic potential introduces multimode resonances, which promote the formation of high-order bright solitons. By gradually reducing the potential strength, bright solitons undergo a transition into dark solitons. We describe this process as a shift from a multimode resonance to a collapsed snaking bifurcation structure. This work offers a comprehensive overview of cavity dynamics and may provide a potential pathway to access multi-stable states by effectively varying the phase modulation.

Depletion-limited Kerr solitons in singly resonant optical parametric oscillators.

We analyze the impact of pump depletion in the generation of parametrically driven Kerr cavity solitons in a degenerate optical parametric oscillator. Using variational methods, we derive an analytical expression that describes the soliton existence region. We use this expression to study the energy conversion efficiency and compare it to a linearly driven Kerr resonator modeled by the Lugiato-Lefever equation. Parametric driving is more efficient at high walk-off between the continuous wave driving and the soliton.

Modal phase-locking in multimode nonlinear optical fibers.

Spatial beam self-cleaning, a manifestation of the Kerr effect in graded-index multimode fibers, involves a nonlinear transfer of power among modes, which leads to robust bell-shaped output beams. The resulting mode power distribution can be described by statistical mechanics arguments. Although the spatial coherence of the output beam was experimentally demonstrated, there is no direct study of modal phase evolutions. Based on a holographic mode decomposition method, we reveal that nonlinear spatial phase-locking occurs between the fundamental and its neighboring low-order modes, in agreement with theoretical predictions. As such, our results dispel the current belief that the spatial beam self-cleaning effect is the mere result of a wave thermalization process.

Robust Three-Dimensional High-Order Solitons and Breathers in Driven Dissipative Systems: A Kerr Cavity Realization.

We present a general approach to excite robust dissipative three-dimensional and high-order solitons and breathers in passively driven nonlinear cavities. Our findings are illustrated in the paradigmatic example provided by an optical Kerr cavity with diffraction and anomalous dispersion, with the addition of an attractive three-dimensional parabolic potential. The potential breaks the translational symmetry along all directions, and impacts the system in a qualitatively unexpected manner: three-dimensional solitons, or light bullets, are the only existing and stable states for a given set of parameters. This property is extremely rare, if not unknown, in passive nonlinear systems. As a result, the excitation of the cavity with any input field leads to the deterministic formation of a target soliton or breather, with a spatiotemporal profile that unambiguously corresponds to the given cavity and pumping conditions. In addition, the tuning of the potential width along the temporal direction results in the existence of a plethora of stable asymmetric solitons. Our results may provide a solid route toward the observation of dissipative light bullets and three-dimensional breathers.

Transitions between dissipative localized structures in the simplified Gilad-Meron model for dryland plant ecology.

Spatially extended patterns and multistability of possible different states are common in many ecosystems, and their combination has an important impact on their dynamical behaviors. One potential combination involves tristability between a patterned state and two different uniform states. Using a simplified version of the Gilad-Meron model for dryland ecosystems, we study the organization, in bifurcation terms, of the localized structures arising in tristable regimes. These states are generally related to the concept of wave front locking and appear in the form of spots and gaps of vegetation. We find that the coexistence of localized spots and gaps, within tristable configurations, yields the appearance of hybrid states. We also study the emergence of spatiotemporal localized states consisting of a portion of a periodic pattern embedded in a uniform Hopf-like oscillatory background in a subcritical Turing-Hopf dynamical regime.

Multimode soliton collisions in graded-index optical fibers.

In this work, we unveil the unique complex dynamics of multimode soliton interactions in graded-index optical fibers through simulations and experiments. By generating two multimode solitons from the fission of an input femtosecond pulse, we examine the evolution of their Raman-induced red-shift when the input pulse energy grows larger. Remarkably, we find that the output red-shift of the trailing multimode soliton may be reduced, so that it accelerates until it collides with the leading multimode soliton. As a result of the inelastic collision, a significant energy transfer occurs between the two multimode solitons: the trailing soliton captures energy from the leading soliton, which ultimately enhances its red-shift, thus increasing temporal separation between the two multimode solitons.

Mode-locking induced by coherent driving in fiber lasers.

Mode-locking is a broad concept that encompasses different processes enabling short optical pulse formation in lasers. It typically requires an intracavity mechanism that discriminates between single and collective mode lasing, which can be complex and sometimes adds noise. Moreover, known mode-locking schemes do not guarantee phase stability of the carrier wave. Here, we theoretically propose that injecting a detuned signal seamlessly leads to mode-locking in fiber lasers. We show that phase-locked pulses, akin to cavity solitons, exist in a wide range of parameters. In that regime the laser behaves as a passive resonator due to the non-instantaneous gain saturation.

Quartic Kerr cavity combs: bright and dark solitons.

We theoretically investigate the dynamics, bifurcation structure, and stability of localized states in Kerr cavities driven at the pure fourth-order dispersion point. Both the normal and anomalous group velocity dispersion regimes are analyzed, highlighting the main differences from the standard second-order dispersion case. In the anomalous regime, single and multi-peak localized states exist and are stable over a much wider region of the parameter space. In the normal dispersion regime, stable narrow bright solitons exist. Some of our findings can be understood using a new, to the best of our knowledge, scenario reported here for the spatial eigenvalues, which imposes oscillatory tails to all localized states.

Dissipative Kerr solitons, breathers, and chimera states in coherently driven passive cavities with parabolic potential.

We analyze the stability and dynamics of dissipative Kerr solitons (DKSs) in the presence of a parabolic potential. This potential stabilizes oscillatory and chaotic regimes, favoring the generation of static DKSs. Furthermore, the potential induces the emergence of new dissipative structures, such as asymmetric breathers and chimera-like states. Based on a mode decomposition of these states, we unveil the underlying modal interactions.

Self-pulsing and chaos in the asymmetrically driven dissipative photonic Bose-Hubbard dimer: A bifurcation analysis.

We perform a systematic study of the temporal dynamics emerging in the asymmetrically driven dissipative Bose-Hubbard dimer model. This model successfully describes the nonlinear dynamics of photonic diatomic molecules in linearly coupled Kerr resonators coherently excited by a single laser beam. Such temporal dynamics may include self-pulsing oscillations, period doubled oscillatory states, chaotic dynamics, and spikes. We have thoroughly characterized such dynamical states, their origin, and their regions of stability by applying bifurcation analysis and dynamical system theory. This approach has allowed us to identify and classify the instabilities, which are responsible for the appearance of different types of temporal dynamics.

Frequency comb generation through the locking of domain walls in doubly resonant dispersive optical parametric oscillators.

In this Letter we theoretically investigate the formation of localized temporal dissipative structures, and their corresponding frequency combs in doubly resonant dispersive optical parametric oscillators. We derive a nonlocal mean field model, and show that domain wall locking allows for the formation of stable coherent optical frequency combs.

Quadratic soliton combs in doubly resonant second-harmonic generation.

We report a theoretical investigation of quadratic frequency combs in a dispersive second-harmonic generation cavity system. We identify different dynamical regimes and demonstrate that the same system can exhibit both bright and dark localized cavity solitons in the absence of a temporal walk-off.

Origin and stability of dark pulse Kerr combs in normal dispersion resonators.

We analyze dark pulse Kerr frequency combs in optical resonators with normal group-velocity dispersion using the Lugiato-Lefever model. We show that in the time domain the combs correspond to interlocked switching waves between the upper and lower homogeneous states, and explain how this fact accounts for many of their experimentally observed properties. Modulational instability does not play any role in their existence. We provide a detailed map indicating for which parameters stable dark pulse Kerr combs can be found, and how they are destabilized for increasing values of frequency detuning.

Third-order chromatic dispersion stabilizes Kerr frequency combs.

Using numerical simulations of an extended Lugiato-Lefever equation we analyze the stability and nonlinear dynamics of Kerr frequency combs generated in microresonators and fiber resonators, taking into account third-order dispersion effects. We show that cavity solitons underlying Kerr frequency combs, normally sensitive to oscillatory and chaotic instabilities, are stabilized in a wide range of parameter space by third-order dispersion. Moreover, we demonstrate how the snaking structure organizing compound states of multiple cavity solitons is qualitatively changed by third-order dispersion, promoting an increased stability of Kerr combs underlined by a single cavity soliton.

Cell cycle oscillations driven by two interlinked bistable switches.

Regular transitions between interphase and mitosis during the cell cycle are driven by changes in the activity of the enzymatic protein complex cyclin B with cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1). At the most basic level, this cell cycle oscillator is driven by negative feedback: active cyclin B-Cdk1 activates the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome, which triggers the degradation of cyclin B. Such cell cycle oscillations occur fast and periodically in the early embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis, where several positive-feedback loops leading to bistable switches in parts of the regulatory network have been experimentally identified. Here, we build cell cycle oscillator models to show how single and multiple bistable switches in parts of the underlying regulatory network change the properties of the oscillations and how they can confer robustness to the oscillator. We present a detailed bifurcation analysis of these models.

Emergence of collapsed snaking related dark and bright Kerr dissipative solitons with quartic-quadratic dispersion.

We theoretically investigate the dynamics, bifurcation structure, and stability of dark localized states emerging in Kerr cavities in the presence of positive second- and fourth-order dispersion. In this previously unexplored regime, dark states form through the locking of uniform wave fronts, or domain walls, connecting two coexisting stable uniform states, and undergo a generic bifurcation structure known as collapsed homoclinic snaking. We characterize the robustness of these states by computing their stability and bifurcation structure as a function of the main control parameter of the system. Furthermore, we show that by increasing the dispersion of fourth order, bright localized states can be also stabilized.