Dissipative Polarization Domain Walls in a Passive Coherently Driven Kerr Resonator

Using a passive, coherently driven nonlinear optical fiber ring resonator, we report the experimental realization of dissipative polarization domain walls. The domain walls arise through a symmetry breaking bifurcation and consist of temporally localized structures where the amplitudes of the two polarization modes of the resonator interchange, segregating domains of orthogonal polarization states. We show that dissipative polarization domain walls can persist in the resonator without changing shape. We also demonstrate on-demand excitation, as well as pinning of domain walls at specific positions for arbitrary long times. Our results could prove useful for the analog simulation of ubiquitous domain-wall related phenomena, and pave the way to an all-optical buffer adapted to the transmission of topological bits.

Automated summary

Dissipative polarization domain walls have been experimentally realized in a nonlinear optical fiber ring resonator, where these walls are formed through symmetry breaking bifurcation and consist of temporally localized structures. These domain walls can persist in the resonator without changing shape and can be pinned at specific positions for long periods of time. This research could be beneficial for analog simulations of domain-wall related phenomena and for developing an all-optical buffer for the transmission of topological bits.