title: How lasing localized structures evolve out of passive mode locking.
abstract: We investigate the relationship between passive mode locking and the formation of time-localized structures in the output intensity of a laser. We show how the mode-locked pulses transform into lasing localized structures, allowing for individual addressing and arbitrary low repetition rates. Our analysis reveals that this occurs when (i) the cavity round-trip is much larger than the slowest medium time scale, namely the gain recovery time, and (ii) the mode-locked solution coexists with the zero intensity (off) solution. These conditions enable the coexistence of a large quantity of stable solutions, each of them being characterized by a different number of pulses per round-trip and with different arrangements. Then, each mode-locked pulse becomes localized, i.e., individually addressable.
authors.affiliation: Institut Non-Linéaire de Nice, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS UMR 7335, 06560 Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: Institut Non-Linéaire de Nice, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS UMR 7335, 06560 Valbonne, France and Departament de Fisica, Universitat de les Illes Baleares, 07122 Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Javaloyes
authors.affiliation: Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, CSIC-UIB, E-07071 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balle
authors.affiliation: Institut Non-Linéaire de Nice, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS UMR 7335, 06560 Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giudici