Thesis

Cavity solitons and frequency combs via vectorial and counterpropagating light in optical resonator

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2025
Thesis identifier
  • T17315
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 202073509
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Abstract
  • In this thesis, we concern ourselves with generation of frequency combs in ring and FabryP´erot resonators possessing intracavity fields of; vectorial field components, counterpropagating field components or a combination of the two, with a wide range of applications including telecommunication, spectroscopy and quantum technologies. For counterpropagating fields in the ring resonator, we characterise the formation of robust stationary states formed by light plateaus separated by two local switching fronts. Such states are due to nonlocal cross coupling and allow for frequency combs to switch from one field to the other by simply tuning the input laser frequency. Exact expressions for the distance between fronts and for plateau powers are provided which demonstrate an unusual high degree of control over pulse and plateau duration upon changes of one of the input laser frequencies, where light plateaus are generally self-starting for a wide range of parameters. In the Fabry-P´erot resonator, ranges of existence and stability are determined for dark cavity solitons, where we find that nonlocal coupling leads to strongly detuned dark cavity solitons when compared with ring resonators. This shift is a consequence of the counterpropagation inherent to Fabry-P´erot resonators. The existence and stability of dark soliton solutions are dependent on the size and number of solitons in the cavity due to nonlocal coupling. Long-range interactions between vectorial dark cavity solitons are induced by the formation of patterns via spontaneous symmetry breaking of orthogonally polarised fields. Turing patterns of alternating polarisations form between adjacent solitons, pushing them apart such that a random distribution of solitons spontaneously reach equal equilibrium distances, which enhances the two-component frequency comb through the formation of regular soliton crystals (‘self-crystallisation’). This phenomenon generalises to both Fabry-P´erot and ring resonator systems, where in addition, we discuss the possibility of vectorial dark-bright solitons demonstrating nontrivial breathing dynamics.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Robb, Gordon R. M.
  • Oppo, Gian-Luca
Resource Type
DOI

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