Symmetry Broken Vectorial Kerr Frequency Combs from Fabry-P\'erot Resonators

TL;DR

This paper investigates the generation of vectorial Kerr frequency combs in Fabry-Pérot resonators, highlighting how symmetry breaking and polarization interactions influence soliton formation and comb properties.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of symmetry-broken vector combs in Fabry-Pérot cavities and analyzes how global coupling affects soliton dynamics and polarization states.

Findings

Symmetry breaking leads to vector frequency combs with distinct polarization properties.

Counter-propagating light interactions limit the number of soliton pairs in the cavity.

Long-range polarization conformity occurs in trains of vector solitons.

Abstract

Optical frequency combs find many applications in metrology, frequency standards, communications and photonic devices. We consider field polarization properties and describe a vector comb generation through the spontaneous symmetry breaking of temporal cavity solitons within coherently driven, passive, Fabry-P\'erot cavities with Kerr nonlinearity. Global coupling effects due to the interactions of counter-propagating light restrict the maximum number of soliton pairs within the cavity - even down to a single soliton pair - and force long range polarization conformity in trains of vector solitons.