Theory of filter-induced modulation instability in driven passive optical resonators

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding how optical filters induce modulation instability in driven passive fiber ring resonators, with implications for frequency comb generation.

Contribution

It introduces a mean field model derived from an Ikeda map that accurately predicts filter-induced modulation instability in nonlinear optical resonators.

Findings

The generalized Lugiato-Lefever equation reproduces the Ikeda map predictions.

Control parameters like dispersion and filter bandwidth significantly affect instability gain.

The theory provides insights into optimizing comb generation in optical resonators.

Abstract

We present the theory of modulation instability induced by spectrally dependent losses (optical filters) in passive driven nonlinear fiber ring resonators. Starting from an Ikeda map description of the propagation equation and boundary conditions, we derive a mean field model - a generalised Lugiato-Lefever equation - which reproduces with great accuracy the predictions of the map. The effects on instability gain and comb generation of the different control parameters such as dispersion, cavity detuning, filter spectral position and bandwidth are discussed.