Switching dynamics of dark-pulse Kerr comb states in optical microresonators

TL;DR

This paper investigates the reversible switching behavior of dark-pulse Kerr comb states in normal dispersion microresonators, revealing new resonances linked to soliton dynamics and advancing understanding of microcomb generation.

Contribution

It demonstrates deterministic reversible switching between dark-pulse Kerr comb states and identifies a novel resonance associated with soliton behavior in normal dispersion microresonators.

Findings

Reversible switching between dark-pulse states is achievable.

A new resonance linked to dark-pulse formation is observed.

Insights into high-efficiency microcomb generation are provided.

Abstract

Dissipative Kerr solitons are localized structures that exist in optical microresonators. They lead to the formation of microcombs --- chip-scale frequency combs that could facilitate precision frequency synthesis and metrology by capitalizing on advances in silicon photonics. Previous demonstrations have mainly focused on anomalous dispersion microresonators. Notwithstanding, localized structures also exist in the normal dispersion regime in the form of circulating dark pulses, but their physical dynamics is far from being understood. Here, we report the discovery of reversible switching between coherent dark-pulse Kerr combs, whereby distinct states can be accessed deterministically. Furthermore, we reveal that the formation of dark-pulse Kerr combs is associated with the appearance of a new resonance, a feature that has never been observed for dark-pulses and is ascribed to soliton behavior. These results contribute to understanding the nonlinear physics in few-mode microresonators and provide insight into the generation of microcombs with high conversion efficiency.