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Spontaneous symmetry breaking of dissipative optical solitons in a two-component Kerr resonator

Author

Listed:
  • Gang Xu

    (University of Auckland
    The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies)

  • Alexander U. Nielsen

    (University of Auckland
    The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies)

  • Bruno Garbin

    (University of Auckland
    The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies
    Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Lewis Hill

    (University of Strathclyde
    National Physical Laboratory)

  • Gian-Luca Oppo

    (University of Strathclyde)

  • Julien Fatome

    (University of Auckland
    The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies
    Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)

  • Stuart G. Murdoch

    (University of Auckland
    The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies)

  • Stéphane Coen

    (University of Auckland
    The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies)

  • Miro Erkintalo

    (University of Auckland
    The Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies)

Abstract

Dissipative solitons are self-localized structures that can persist indefinitely in open systems driven out of equilibrium. They play a key role in photonics, underpinning technologies from mode-locked lasers to microresonator optical frequency combs. Here we report on experimental observations of spontaneous symmetry breaking of dissipative optical solitons. Our experiments are performed in a nonlinear optical ring resonator, where dissipative solitons arise in the form of persisting pulses of light known as Kerr cavity solitons. We engineer symmetry between two orthogonal polarization modes of the resonator and show that the solitons of the system can spontaneously break this symmetry, giving rise to two distinct but co-existing vectorial solitons with mirror-like, asymmetric polarization states. We also show that judiciously applied perturbations allow for deterministic switching between the two symmetry-broken dissipative soliton states. Our work delivers fundamental insights at the intersection of multi-mode nonlinear optical resonators, dissipative structures, and spontaneous symmetry breaking, and expands upon our understanding of dissipative solitons in coherently driven Kerr resonators.

Suggested Citation

  • Gang Xu & Alexander U. Nielsen & Bruno Garbin & Lewis Hill & Gian-Luca Oppo & Julien Fatome & Stuart G. Murdoch & Stéphane Coen & Miro Erkintalo, 2021. "Spontaneous symmetry breaking of dissipative optical solitons in a two-component Kerr resonator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24251-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24251-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Bashir, Azhar & Seadawy, Aly R. & Ahmed, Sarfaraz & Rizvi, Syed T.R., 2022. "The Weierstrass and Jacobi elliptic solutions along with multiwave, homoclinic breather, kink-periodic-cross rational and other solitary wave solutions to Fornberg Whitham equation," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Stéphane Coen & Bruno Garbin & Gang Xu & Liam Quinn & Nathan Goldman & Gian-Luca Oppo & Miro Erkintalo & Stuart G. Murdoch & Julien Fatome, 2024. "Nonlinear topological symmetry protection in a dissipative system," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Seadawy, Aly R. & Rizvi, Syed T.R. & Ahmed, Sarfaraz, 2022. "Multiple lump, generalized breathers, Akhmediev breather, manifold periodic and rogue wave solutions for generalized Fitzhugh-Nagumo equation: Applications in nuclear reactor theory," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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