Synthesis and dissociation of soliton molecules in parallel optical-soliton reactors

He W, Pang M, Yeh DH, Huang J, Russell PSJ (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Light: Science & Applications CIOMP

Book Volume: 10

Article Number: 120

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41377-021-00558-x

Abstract

Mode-locked lasers have been widely used to explore interactions between optical solitons, including bound-soliton states that may be regarded as “photonic molecules”. Conventional mode-locked lasers normally, however, host at most only a few solitons, which means that stochastic behaviours involving large numbers of solitons cannot easily be studied under controlled experimental conditions. Here we report the use of an optoacoustically mode-locked fibre laser to create hundreds of temporal traps or “reactors” in parallel, within each of which multiple solitons can be isolated and controlled both globally and individually using all-optical methods. We achieve on-demand synthesis and dissociation of soliton molecules within these reactors, in this way unfolding a novel panorama of diverse dynamics in which the statistics of multi-soliton interactions can be studied. The results are of crucial importance in understanding dynamical soliton interactions and may motivate potential applications for all-optical control of ultrafast light fields in optical resonators.

Authors with CRIS profile

Dung-Han Yeh Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Professur) Jiapeng Huang Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Professur) Philip St. John Russell Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Professur)

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

He, W., Pang, M., Yeh, D.-H., Huang, J., & Russell, P.S.J. (2021). Synthesis and dissociation of soliton molecules in parallel optical-soliton reactors. Light: Science & Applications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-021-00558-x

MLA:

He, Wenbin, et al. "Synthesis and dissociation of soliton molecules in parallel optical-soliton reactors." Light: Science & Applications 10.1 (2021).

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