Stability and interactions of solitons in two-component active systems

Self-emergence of robust solitons in a microcavity

In many disciplines, states that emerge in open systems far from equilibrium are determined by a few global parameters^1,2. These states can often mimic thermodynamic equilibrium, a classic example being the oscillation threshold of a laser³ that resembles a phase transition in condensed matter. However, many classes of states cannot form spontaneously in dissipative systems, and this is the case for cavity solitons² that generally need to be induced by external perturbations, as in the case of optical memories^4,5. In the past decade, these highly localized states have enabled important advancements in microresonator-based optical frequency combs^6,7. However, the very advantages that make cavity solitons attractive for memories-their inability to form spontaneously from noise-have created fundamental challenges. As sources, microcombs require spontaneous and reliable initiation into a desired state that is intrinsically robust^8-20. Here we show that the slow non-linearities of a free-running microresonator-filtered fibre laser²¹ can transform temporal cavity solitons into the system's dominant attractor. This phenomenon leads to reliable self-starting oscillation of microcavity solitons that are naturally robust to perturbations, recovering spontaneously even after complete disruption. These emerge repeatably and controllably into a large region of the global system parameter space in which specific states, highly stable over long timeframes, can be achieved.

Operating regimes of cavity solitons by virtue of a graphene flake saturable absorber

Exploiting the. broadband operating frequency regimes of a graphene flake saturable absorber (GFSA), a cavity soliton (CS) is excited in heretofore unexplored ultraviolet and visible regions. A broad-area device, namely, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is taken as a host of CSs; a two-dimensional (2D) transverse soliton, which is quite different from the conventional propagating one. The VCSEL with an embedded 2D homogeneous transverse layer of a GFSA is coupled with a frequency selective feedback. A CS is also generated in the infrared region, especially at the optical communication wavelength. Spontaneous dynamics and interaction behavior of CSs as well as generation of CS molecules and the push-broom effect are reported in this broad cross-sectional device. In comparison with other existing and potential models, the proposed VCSEL with GFSA model shows greater efficiency.

Modulation instability in helicoidal spin-orbit coupled open Bose-Einstein condensates

We introduce a vector form of the cubic complex Ginzburg-Landau equation describing the dynamics of dissipative solitons in the two-component helicoidal spin-orbit coupled open Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), where the addition of dissipative interactions is done through coupled rate equations. Furthermore, the standard linear stability analysis is used to investigate theoretically the stability of continuous-wave (cw) solutions and to obtain an expression for the modulational instability gain spectrum. Using direct simulations of the Fourier space, we numerically investigate the dynamics of the modulational instability in the presence of helicoidal spin-orbit coupling. Our numerical simulations confirm the theoretical predictions of the linear theory as well as the threshold for amplitude perturbations.

Temporal cavity solitons in a laser-based microcomb: a path to a self-starting pulsed laser without saturable absorption

We theoretically present a design of self-starting operation of microcombs based on laser-cavity solitons in a system composed of a micro-resonator nested in and coupled to an amplifying laser cavity. We demonstrate that it is possible to engineer the modulational-instability gain of the system's zero state to allow the start-up with a well-defined number of robust solitons. The approach can be implemented by using the system parameters, such as the cavity length mismatch and the gain shape, to control the number and repetition rate of the generated solitons. Because the setting does not require saturation of the gain, the results offer an alternative to standard techniques that provide laser mode-locking.

The solutions with recurrence property for stochastic linearly coupled complex cubic-quintic Ginzburg–Landau equations

Stochastic periodic type solution is a powerful tool for studying qualitative analysis of stochastic dynamical systems. In this paper, we will establish the bounded solutions, stationary solutions, periodic solutions, almost periodic solutions, almost automorphic solutions for stochastic linearly coupled complex cubic-quintic Ginzburg–Landau equations under suitable conditions. The main novelty of this paper is dealing with cubic nonlinear terms and the quintic nonlinear terms which are not Lipschitz. We overcome this difficulty by the semigroup approach, stochastic analysis techniques, energy estimate method and refined inequality technique.

PT-symmetric couplers with competing cubic-quintic nonlinearities

We introduce a one-dimensional model of the parity-time ( PT)-symmetric coupler, with mutually balanced linear gain and loss acting in the two cores, and nonlinearity represented by the combination of self-focusing cubic and defocusing quintic terms in each core. The system may be realized in optical waveguides, in the spatial and temporal domains alike. Stationary solutions for PT-symmetric solitons in the systems are tantamount to their counterparts in the ordinary coupler with the cubic-quintic nonlinearity, where the spontaneous symmetry breaking of solitons is accounted for by bifurcation loops. A novel problem is stability of the PT-symmetric solitons, which is affected by the competition of the PT symmetry, linear coupling, cubic self-focusing, and quintic defocusing. As a result, the solitons become unstable against symmetry breaking with the increase of the energy (alias integral power, in terms of the spatial-domain realization), and they retrieve the stability at still larger energies. Above a certain value of the strength of the quintic self-defocusing, the PT symmetry of the solitons becomes unbreakable. In the same system, PT-antisymmetric solitons are entirely unstable. We identify basic scenarios of the evolution of unstable solitons, which may lead to generation of additional ones, while stronger instability creates expanding quasi-turbulent patterns with limited amplitudes. Collisions between stable solitons are demonstrated to be quasi-elastic.

The Asymmetric Active Coupler: Stable Nonlinear Supermodes and Directed Transport

We consider the asymmetric active coupler (AAC) consisting of two coupled dissimilar waveguides with gain and loss. We show that under generic conditions, not restricted by parity-time symmetry, there exist finite-power, constant-intensity nonlinear supermodes (NS), resulting from the balance between gain, loss, nonlinearity, coupling and dissimilarity. The system is shown to possess non-reciprocal dynamics enabling directed power transport functionality.

Pinned modes in two-dimensional lossy lattices with local gain and nonlinearity

We introduce a system with one or two amplified nonlinear sites ('hot spots', HSs) embedded into a two-dimensional linear lossy lattice. The system describes an array of evanescently coupled optical or plasmonic waveguides, with gain applied to selected HS cores. The subject of the analysis is discrete solitons pinned to the HSs. The shape of the localized modes is found in quasi-analytical and numerical forms, using a truncated lattice for the analytical consideration. Stability eigenvalues are computed numerically, and the results are supplemented by direct numerical simulations. In the case of self-focusing nonlinearity, the modes pinned to a single HS are stable and unstable when the nonlinearity includes the cubic loss and gain, respectively. If the nonlinearity is self-defocusing, the unsaturated cubic gain acting at the HS supports stable modes in a small parametric area, whereas weak cubic loss gives rise to a bistability of the discrete solitons. Symmetric and antisymmetric modes pinned to a symmetric set of two HSs are also considered.

Multisoliton Newton's cradles and supersolitons in regular and parity-time-symmetric nonlinear couplers

We demonstrate the existence of stable collective excitation in the form of "supersolitons" propagating through chains of solitons with alternating signs (i.e., Newton's cradles built of solitons) in nonlinear optical couplers, including the parity-time-symmetric (PT-symmetric) version thereof. In the regular coupler, stable supersolitons are created in the cradles composed of both symmetric solitons and asymmetric ones with alternating polarities. Collisions between moving supersolitons are investigated too, by means of direct simulations in both the regular and PT-symmetric couplers.

Stabilizing and destabilizing perturbations of PT-symmetric indefinitely damped systems

Eigenvalues of a potential dynamical system with damping forces that are described by an indefinite real symmetric matrix can behave as those of a Hamiltonian system when gain and loss are in a perfect balance. This happens when the indefinitely damped system obeys parity-time ( ) symmetry. How do pure imaginary eigenvalues of a stable -symmetric indefinitely damped system behave when variation in the damping and potential forces destroys the symmetry? We establish that it is essentially the tangent cone to the stability domain at the exceptional point corresponding to the Whitney umbrella singularity on the stability boundary that manages transfer of instability between modes.

Pinned modes in lossy lattices with local gain and nonlinearity

We introduce a discrete linear lossy system with an embedded "hot spot" (HS), i.e., a site carrying linear gain and complex cubic nonlinearity. The system can be used to model an array of optical or plasmonic waveguides, where selective excitation of particular cores is possible. Localized modes pinned to the HS are constructed in an implicit analytical form, and their stability is investigated numerically. Stability regions for the modes are obtained in the parameter space of the linear gain and cubic gain or loss. An essential result is that the interaction of the unsaturated cubic gain and self-defocusing nonlinearity can produce stable modes, although they may be destabilized by finite-amplitude perturbations. On the other hand, the interplay of the cubic loss and self-defocusing gives rise to a bistability.

Multistable dissipative structures pinned to dual hot spots

We analyze the formation of one-dimensional localized patterns in a nonlinear dissipative medium including a set of two narrow "hot spots" (HSs), which carry the linear gain, local potential, cubic self-interaction, and cubic loss, while the linear loss acts in the host medium. This system can be realized as a spatial-domain one in optics and also in Bose-Einstein condensates of quasiparticles in solid-state settings. Recently, exact solutions were found for localized modes pinned to the single HS represented by the δ function. The present paper reports analytical and numerical solutions for coexisting two- and multipeak modes, which may be symmetric or antisymmetric with respect to the underlying HS pair. Stability of the modes is explored through simulations of their perturbed evolution. The sign of the cubic nonlinearity plays a crucial role: in the case of the self-focusing, only the fundamental symmetric and antisymmetric modes, with two local peaks tacked to the HSs, and no additional peaks between them, may be stable. In this case, all the higher-order multipeak modes, being unstable, evolve into the fundamental ones. Stability regions for the fundamental modes are reported. A more interesting situation is found in the case of the self-defocusing cubic nonlinearity, with the HS pair giving rise to a multistability, with up to eight coexisting stable multipeak patterns, symmetric and antisymmetric ones. The system without the self-interaction, the nonlinearity being represented only by the local cubic loss, is investigated too. This case is similar to those with the self-focusing or defocusing nonlinearity, if the linear potential of the HS is, respectively, attractive or repulsive. An additional feature of the former setting is the coexistence of the stable fundamental modes with robust breathers.

Stability of solitons in parity-time-symmetric couplers

Families of analytical solutions are found for symmetric and antisymmetric solitons in a dual-core system with Kerr nonlinearity and parity-time (PT)-balanced gain and loss. The crucial issue is stability of the solitons. A stability region is obtained in an analytical form, and verified by simulations, for the PT-symmetric solitons. For the antisymmetric ones, the stability border is found in a numerical form. Moving solitons of both types collide elastically. The two soliton species merge into one in the "supersymmetric" case, with equal coefficients of gain, loss, and intercore coupling. These solitons feature a subexponential instability, which may be suppressed by periodic switching ("management").

Solitons in a chain of parity-time-invariant dimers

Dynamics of a chain of interacting parity-time-invariant nonlinear dimers is investigated. A dimer is built as a pair of coupled elements with equal gain and loss. A relation between stationary soliton solutions of the model and solitons of the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation is demonstrated. Approximate solutions for solitons whose width is large in comparison to the lattice spacing are derived, using a continuum counterpart of the discrete equations. These solitons are mobile, featuring nearly elastic collisions. Stationary solutions for narrow solitons, which are immobile due to the pinning by the effective Peierls-Nabarro potential, are constructed numerically, starting from the anticontinuum limit. The solitons with the amplitude exceeding a certain critical value suffer an instability leading to blowup, which is a specific feature of the nonlinear parity-time-symmetric chain, making it dynamically different from DNLS lattices. A qualitative explanation of this feature is proposed. The instability threshold drops with the increase of the gain-loss coefficient, but it does not depend on the lattice coupling constant, nor on the soliton's velocity.

From one- to two-dimensional solitons in the Ginzburg-Landau model of lasers with frequency-selective feedback

We use the cubic complex Ginzburg-Landau equation linearly coupled to a dissipative linear equation as a model for lasers with an external frequency-selective feedback. This system may also serve as a general pattern-formation model in media driven by an intrinsic gain and selective feedback. While, strictly speaking, the approximation of the laser nonlinearity by a cubic term is only valid for small field intensities, it qualitatively reproduces results for dissipative solitons obtained in models with a more complex nonlinearity in the whole parameter region where the solitons exist. The analysis is focused on two-dimensional stripe-shaped and vortex solitons. An analytical expression for the stripe solitons is obtained from the known one-dimensional soliton solution, and its relation with vortex solitons is highlighted. The radius of the vortices increases linearly with their topological charge m, therefore the stripe-shaped soliton may be interpreted as the vortex with m=∞, and, conversely, vortex solitons can be realized as unstable stripes bent into stable rings. The results for the vortices are applicable for a broad class of physical systems.

Stable spatial plasmon solitons in a dielectric-metal-dielectric geometry with gain and loss

Using a combination of numerical and analytical techniques we demonstrate that a metal stripe surrounded by the active and passive dielectrics supports propagation of stable spatial surface-plasmon solitons. Our analytical methods include the multiple scale reduction of the Maxwell's equations to the coupled Ginzburg-Landau system, and the soliton perturbation theory developed in the framework of the latter.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in coupled parametrically driven waveguides

We introduce a system of linearly coupled parametrically driven damped nonlinear Schrödinger equations, which models a laser based on a nonlinear dual-core waveguide with parametric amplification symmetrically applied to both cores. The model may also be realized in terms of parallel ferromagnetic films, in which the parametric gain is provided by an external field. We analyze spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) of fundamental and multiple solitons in this system, which was not studied systematically before in linearly coupled dissipative systems with intrinsic nonlinearity. For fundamental solitons, the analysis reveals three distinct SSB scenarios. Unlike the standard dual-core-fiber model, the present system gives rise to a vast bistability region, which may be relevant to applications. Other noteworthy findings are restabilization of the symmetric soliton after it was destabilized by the SSB bifurcation, and the existence of a generic situation with all solitons unstable in the single-component (decoupled) model, while both symmetric and asymmetric solitons may be stable in the coupled system. The stability of the asymmetric solitons is identified via direct simulations, while for symmetric and antisymmetric ones the stability is verified too through the computation of stability eigenvalues, families of antisymmetric solitons being entirely unstable. In this way, full stability maps for the symmetric solitons are produced. We also investigate the SSB bifurcation of two-soliton bound states (it breaks the symmetry between the two components, while the two peaks in the shape of the soliton remain mutually symmetric). The family of the asymmetric double-peak states may decouple from its symmetric counterpart, being no longer connected to it by the bifurcation, with a large portion of the asymmetric family remaining stable.

Modulational instability in a purely nonlinear coupled complex Ginzburg-Landau equations through a nonlinear discrete transmission line

We study wave propagation in a nonlinear transmission line with dissipative elements. We show analytically that the telegraphers' equations of the electrical transmission line can be modeled by a pair of continuous coupled complex Ginzburg-Landau equations, coupled by purely nonlinear terms. Based on this system, we investigated both analytically and numerically the modulational instability (MI). We produce characteristics of the MI in the form of typical dependence of the instability growth rate on the wavenumbers and system parameters. Generic outcomes of the nonlinear development of the MI are investigated by dint of direct simulations of the underlying equations. We find that the initial modulated plane wave disintegrates into waves train. An apparently turbulent state takes place in the system during the propagation.

Ising and Bloch domain walls in a two-dimensional parametrically driven Ginzburg-Landau equation model with nonlinearity management

We study a parametrically driven Ginzburg-Landau equation model with nonlinear management. The system is made of laterally coupled long active waveguides placed along a circumference. Stationary solutions of three kinds are found: periodic Ising states and two types of Bloch states, staggered and unstaggered. The stability of these states is investigated analytically and numerically. The nonlinear dynamics of the Bloch states are described by a complex Ginzburg-Landau equation with linear and nonlinear parametric driving. The switching between the staggered and unstaggered Bloch states under the action of direct ac forces is shown.

Solitary pulses in linearly coupled Ginzburg-Landau equations

This article presents a brief review of dynamical models based on systems of linearly coupled complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equations. In the simplest case, the system features linear gain, cubic nonlinearity (possibly combined with cubic loss), and group-velocity dispersion (GVD) in one equation, while the other equation is linear, featuring only intrinsic linear loss. The system models a dual-core fiber laser, with a parallel-coupled active core and an additional stabilizing passive (lossy) one. The model gives rise to exact analytical solutions for stationary solitary pulses (SPs). The article presents basic results concerning stability of the SPs; interactions between pulses are also considered, as are dark solitons (holes). In the case of the anomalous GVD, an unstable stationary SP may transform itself, via the Hopf bifurcation, into a stable localized breather. Various generalizations of the basic system are briefly reviewed too, including a model with quadratic (second-harmonic-generating) nonlinearity and a recently introduced model of a different but related type, based on linearly coupled CGL equations with cubic-quintic nonlinearity. The latter system features spontaneous symmetry breaking of stationary SPs, and also the formation of stable breathers.

Moving and colliding pulses in the subcritical Ginzburg-Landau model with a standing-wave drive

We show the existence of steadily moving solitary pulses (SPs) in the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation, which includes the cubic-quintic nonlinearity and a conservative linear driving term, whose amplitude is a standing wave with wave number k and frequency omega, the motion of the SPs being possible at resonant velocities +/-omega/k, which provide for locking to the drive. The model may be realized in terms of traveling-wave convection in a narrow channel with a standing wave excited in its bottom (or on the surface). An analytical approximation is developed, based on an effective equation of motion for the SP coordinate. Direct simulations demonstrate that the effective equation accurately predicts characteristics of the driven motion of pulses, such as a threshold value of the drive's amplitude. Collisions between two solitons traveling in opposite directions are studied by means of direct simulations, which reveal that they restore their original shapes and velocity after the collision.

Localized states in a triangular set of linearly coupled complex Ginzburg-Landau equations

We introduce a pattern-formation model based on a symmetric system of three linearly coupled cubic-quintic complex Ginzburg-Landau equations, which form a triangular configuration. This is the simplest model of a multicore fiber laser. We identify stability regions for various types of localized patterns possible in this setting, which include stationary and breathing triangular vortices.

Stability properties of multiwavelength, incoherent, dissipative spatial solitons

We have investigated the interaction between two dissipative spatial solitons of different frequencies in periodically patterned semiconductor optical amplifiers. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory. Simulations suggest that multiwavelength interactions do not produce stable bound solitons unless the system's modeling equations are completely symmetric.

Multichannel pulse dynamics in a stabilized Ginzburg-Landau system

We study the stability and interactions of chirped solitary pulses in a system of nonlinearly coupled cubic Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equations with a group-velocity mismatch between them, where each CGL equation is stabilized by linearly coupling it to an additional linear dissipative equation. In the context of nonlinear fiber optics, the model describes transmission and collisions of pulses at different wavelengths in a dual-core fiber, in which the active core is furnished with bandwidth-limited gain, while the other, passive (lossy) one is necessary for stabilization of the solitary pulses. Complete and incomplete collisions of pulses in two channels in the cases of anomalous and normal dispersion in the active core are analyzed by means of perturbation theory and direct numerical simulations. It is demonstrated that the model may readily support fully stable pulses whose collisions are quasielastic, provided that the group-velocity difference between the two channels exceeds a critical value. In the case of quasielastic collisions, the temporal shift of pulses, predicted by the analytical approach, is in semiquantitative agreement with direct numerical results in the case of anomalous dispersion (in the opposite case, the perturbation theory does not apply). We also consider a simultaneous collision between pulses in three channels, concluding that this collision remains quasielastic, and the pulses remain completely stable. Thus, the model may be a starting point for the design of a stabilized wavelength-division-multiplexed transmission system.

Stabilized Kuramoto-Sivashinsky system

A model consisting of a mixed Kuramoto-Sivashinsky-Korteweg-de Vries equation, linearly coupled to an extra linear dissipative equation, is proposed. The model applies to a description of surface waves on multilayered liquid films. The extra equation makes it possible to stabilize the zero solution in the model, thus opening the way to the existence of stable solitary pulses. By means of perturbation theory, treating the dissipation and the instability-generating gain in the model (but not the linear coupling between the two waves) as small perturbations, and making use of the balance equation for the net momentum, we demonstrate that the perturbations may select two steady-state solitons from their continuous family existing in the absence of the dissipation and gain. In this case, the selected pulse with the larger value of the amplitude is expected to be stable, provided that the zero solution is stable. The prediction is completely confirmed by direct simulations. If the integration domain is not very large, some pulses are stable even when the zero background is unstable. An explanation for the latter finding is proposed. Furthermore, stable bound states of two and three pulses are found numerically.

Stable vortex solitons in the two-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau equation

In the framework of the complex cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation, we perform a systematic analysis of two-dimensional axisymmetric doughnut-shaped localized pulses with the inner phase field in the form of a rotating spiral. We put forward a qualitative argument which suggests that, on the contrary to the known fundamental azimuthal instability of spinning doughnut-shaped solitons in the cubic-quintic NLS equation, their GL counterparts may be stable. This is confirmed by massive direct simulations, and, in a more rigorous way, by calculating the growth rate of the dominant perturbation eigenmode. It is shown that very robust spiral solitons with (at least) the values of the vorticity S=0, 1, and 2 can be easily generated from a large variety of initial pulses having the same values of intrinsic vorticity S. In a large domain of the parameter space, it is found that all the stable solitons coexist, each one being a strong attractor inside its own class of localized two-dimensional pulses distinguished by their vorticity. In a smaller region of the parameter space, stable solitons with S=1 and 2 coexist, while the one with S=0 is absent. Stable breathers, i.e., both nonspiraling and spiraling solitons demonstrating persistent quasiperiodic internal vibrations, are found too.

Stabilization of dark solitons in the cubic ginzburg-landau equation

The existence and stability of exact continuous-wave and dark-soliton solutions to a system consisting of the cubic complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equation linearly coupled with a linear dissipative equation is studied. We demonstrate the existence of vast regions in the system's parameter space associated with stable dark-soliton solutions, having the form of the Nozaki-Bekki envelope holes, in contrast to the case of the conventional CGL equation, where they are unstable. In the case when the dark soliton is unstable, two different types of instability are identified. The proposed stabilized model may be realized in terms of a dual-core nonlinear optical fiber, with one core active and one passive.

Stable solitons of quadratic ginzburg-landau equations

We present a physical model based on coupled Ginzburg-Landau equations that supports stable temporal solitary-wave pulses. The system consists of two parallel-coupled cores, one having a quadratic nonlinearity, the other one being effectively linear. The former core is active, with bandwidth-limited amplification built into it, while the latter core has only losses. Parameters of the model can be easily selected so that the zero background is stable. The model has nongeneric exact analytical solutions in the form of solitary pulses ("dissipative solitons"). Direct numerical simulations, using these exact solutions as initial configurations, show that they are unstable; however, the evolution initiated by the exact unstable solitons ends up with nontrivial stable localized pulses, which are very robust attractors. Direct simulations also demonstrate that the presence of group-velocity mismatch (walkoff) between the two harmonics in the active core makes the pulses move at a constant velocity, but does not destabilize them.

Exact solitary-wave solutions of chi(2) Ginzburg-Landau equations

A family of exact temporal solitary-wave solutions (dissipative solitons) to the equations governing second-harmonic generation in quadratically nonlinear optical waveguides, in the presence of linear bandwidth-limited gain at the fundamental harmonic and linear loss at the second harmonic, is found, and the existence domain for the solutions is delineated. Direct numerical simulations of the solitons demonstrate that, as well as the classical pulse solutions to the cubic Ginzburg-Landau equation, the dissipative solitons can propagate robustly over a considerable distance before the model's intrinsic instability leads to onset of "turbulence." Two-soliton bound states are also predicted and then found in the direct simulations. We estimate real values of the physical parameters necessary for the existence of the solitons predicted, and conclude that they can be observed experimentally. A promising application for the solitons is their use in closed-loop cavities.