Frequency comb generation beyond the Lugiato-Lefever equation: multi-stability and super cavity solitons

TL;DR

This paper explores new dynamical regimes in microresonator frequency comb generation beyond the Lugiato-Lefever equation, revealing multi-stability, period doubling, and super cavity solitons using the Ikeda map.

Contribution

It introduces a non-mean-field approach to model high-power regimes, uncovering multi-stability and novel solitons not captured by traditional equations.

Findings

Identification of multi-valued stationary states

Prediction of super cavity solitons

Analysis of period doubled patterns

Abstract

The generation of optical frequency combs in microresonators is considered without resorting to the mean-field approximation. New dynamical regimes are found to appear for high intracavity power that cannot be modeled using the Lugiato-Lefever equation. Using the Ikeda map we show the existence of multi-valued stationary states and analyse their stability. Period doubled patterns are considered and a novel type of super cavity soliton associated with the multi-stable states is predicted.