Synthesized soliton crystals

Dissipative Kerr soliton (DKS) featuring broadband coherent frequency comb with compact size and low power consumption, provides an unparalleled tool for nonlinear physics investigation and precise measurement applications. However, the complex nonlinear dynamics generally leads to stochastic soliton formation process and makes it highly challenging to manipulate soliton number and temporal distribution in the microcavity. Here, synthesized and reconfigurable soliton crystals (SCs) are demonstrated by constructing a periodic intra-cavity potential field, which allows deterministic SCs synthesis with soliton numbers from 1 to 32 in a monolithic integrated microcavity. The ordered temporal distribution coherently enhanced the soliton crystal comb lines power up to 3 orders of magnitude in comparison to the single-soliton state. The interaction between the traveling potential field and the soliton crystals creates periodic forces on soliton and results in forced soliton oscillation. Our work paves the way to effectively manipulate cavity solitons. The demonstrated synthesized SCs offer reconfigurable temporal and spectral profiles, which provide compelling advantages for practical applications such as photonic radar, satellite communication and radio-frequency filter. Here the authors demonstrate an on-demand generation of perfect soliton crystal using synthesized potential field. The individual solitons can also be controlled, for example oscillate around their equilibrium position, by the external field.

Automated summary

In this study, synthesized and reconfigurable soliton crystals were successfully demonstrated by constructing a periodic intra-cavity potential field, which enhanced the power of soliton crystal comb lines and allowed manipulation of soliton number and temporal distribution. The synthesized soliton crystals offer reconfigurable temporal and spectral profiles, showing great potential for applications in fields such as photonic radar, satellite communication, and radio-frequency filters.