Single-mode dispersive waves and soliton microcomb dynamics.
Dissipative Kerr solitons are self-sustaining optical wavepackets in resonators. They use the Kerr nonlinearity to both compensate dispersion and offset optical loss. Besides providing insights into nonlinear resonator physics, they can be applied in frequency metrology, precision clocks, and spectroscopy. Like other optical solitons, the dissipative Kerr soliton can radiate power as a dispersive wave through a process that is the optical analogue of Cherenkov radiation. Dispersive waves typically consist of an ensemble of optical modes. Here, a limiting case is studied in which the dispersive wave is concentrated into a single cavity mode. In this limit, its interaction with the soliton induces hysteresis behaviour in the soliton's spectral and temporal properties. Also, an operating point of enhanced repetition-rate stability occurs through balance of dispersive-wave recoil and Raman-induced soliton-self-frequency shift. The single-mode dispersive wave can therefore provide quiet states of soliton comb operation useful in many applications.
T.J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Xu
X
Yi
T.J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Qi-Fan
0000-0002-7036-1712
QF
Yang
T.J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.|Department of Microelectronics and Nanoelectronics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Xueyue
X
Zhang
T.J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Ki Youl
0000-0002-0587-3201
KY
Yang
T.J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.|State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication Systems and Networks, School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Xinbai
X
Li
T.J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Kerry
K
Vahala