Non-local and local temporal cavity soliton interaction in delay models of mode-locked lasers

TL;DR

This paper derives and analyzes interaction equations for two temporal cavity solitons in a delay model of mode-locked lasers, revealing how non-local and local interactions influence mode-locking regimes and soliton arrangements.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed delay differential equation model capturing both non-local and local soliton interactions and analyzes their effects on mode-locking behaviors.

Findings

Non-local gain depletion and recovery can lead to harmonic mode-locking or incoherent soliton bound states.

Local electric field tail interactions can produce in-phase or anti-phase harmonic regimes.

Interaction types determine the stability and dynamics of soliton configurations.

Abstract

Abstract Interaction equations governing slow time evolution of the coordinates and phases of two interacting temporal cavity solitons in a delay differential equation model of a nonlinear mirror mode-locked laser are derived and analyzed. It is shown that non-local pulse interaction due to gain depletion and recovery can lead either to a development of harmonic mode-locking regime, or to a formation of closely packed incoherent soliton bound state with weakly oscillating intersoliton time separation. Local interaction via electric field tails can result in an anti-phase or in-phase stationary and breathing harmonic mode-locking regimes.