Stationary and traveling solitons via local dissipations in Bose-Einstein condensates in ring optical lattices

A model of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a ring optical lattice with atomic dissipations applied at a stationary or at a moving location on the ring is presented. The localized dissipation is shown to generate and stabilize both stationary and traveling lattice solitons. Among many localized solutions, we have generated spatially stationary quasiperiodic lattice soltions and a family of traveling lattice solitons with two intensity peaks per potential well with no counterpart in the discrete case. Collisions between traveling and stationary lattice solitons as well as between two traveling lattice solitons display a critical dependence from the lattice depth. Stable counterpropagating solitons in ring lattices can find applications in gyroscope interferometers with ultra-cold gases.Comment: 8 pages, 14 figure

Two-colour quantum entanglement in a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator approaching threshold

Following the analytical work of Ref. [1], a numerical analysis of squeezing and quantum entanglement in a continuous wave singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator approaching threshold is provided. The singly resonant case is mainly relevant to largely non-degenerate signal and idler modes (two-colour output). As the threshold of oscillation is approached the numerical spectra of the intensity difference confirm squeezing of quantum fluctuations and a progressive line-narrowing in the linear case. In the nonlinear case entanglement is confirmed although progressively reduced when approaching threshold with the squeezing spectra still displaying a narrowing of the spectral line. Modification of quantum entanglement approaching threshold is also evaluated via the condition of state inseparability

Interactions and Collisions of Discrete Breathers in Two-Species Bose-Einstein Condensates in Optical Lattices

The dynamics of static and travelling breathers in two-species Bose-Einstein condensates in a one-dimensional optical lattice is modelled within the tight-binding approximation. Two coupled discrete nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations describe the interaction of the condensates in two cases of relevance: a mixture of two ytterbium isotopes and a mixture of $^{87}$Rb and $^{41}$K. Depending on their initial separation, interaction between static breathers of different species can lead to the formation of symbiotic structures and transform one of the breathers from a static into a travelling one. Collisions between travelling and static discrete breathers composed of different species are separated in four distinct regimes ranging from totally elastic when the interspecies interaction is highly attractive to mutual destruction when the interaction is sufficiently large and repulsive. We provide an explanation of the collision features in terms of the interspecies coupling and the negative effective mass of the discrete breathers.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Fundamentals and applications of spatial dissipative solitons in photonic devices : [Chapter 6]

We review the properties of optical spatial dissipative solitons (SDS). These are stable, self‐localized optical excitations sitting on a uniform, or quasi‐uniform, background in a dissipative environment like a nonlinear optical cavity. Indeed, in optics they are often termed “cavity solitons.” We discuss their dynamics and interactions in both ideal and imperfect systems, making comparison with experiments. SDS in lasers offer important advantages for applications. We review candidate schemes and the tremendous recent progress in semiconductor‐based cavity soliton lasers. We examine SDS in periodic structures, and we show how SDS can be quantitatively related to the locking of fronts. We conclude with an assessment of potential applications of SDS in photonics, arguing that best use of their particular features is made by exploiting their mobility, for example in all‐optical delay lines

Subcritical patterns and dissipative solitons due to intracavity photonic crystals

Manipulation of the bifurcation structure of nonlinear optical systems via intracavity photonic crystals is demonstrated. In particular, subcritical regions between spatially periodic states are stabilized by modulations of the material's refractive index. An family of dissipative solitons within this bistability range due to the intracavity photonic crystal is identified and characterized in both one and two transverse dimensions. Nontrivial snaking of the modulated-cavity soliton solutions is also presented

Optical Rogue Waves in Vortex Turbulence

We present a spatio-temporal mechanism for producing 2D optical rogue waves in the presence of a turbulent state with creation, interaction and annihilation of optical vortices. Spatially periodic structures with bound phase lose stability to phase unbound turbulent states in complex Ginzburg- Landau and Swift-Hohenberg models with external driving. When the pumping is high and the external driving is low, synchronized oscillations are unstable and lead to spatio-temporal turbulence with high excursions in amplitude. Nonlinear amplification leads to rogue waves close to turbulent optical vortices, where the amplitude tends to zero, and to probability distribution functions with long tails typical of extreme optical events.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figure

Stable droplets and growth laws close to the modulational instability of a domain wall

We consider the curvature driven dynamics of a domain wall separating two equivalent states in systems displaying a modulational instability of a flat front. We derive an amplitude equation for the dynamics of the curvature close to the bifurcation point from growing to schrinking circular droplets. We predict the existence of stable droplets with a radius $R$ that diverges at the bifurcation point, where a curvature driven growth law $R(t) \approx t^{1/4}$ is obtained. Our general analytical predictions, which are valid for a wide variety of systems including models of nonlinear optical cavities and reaction-diffusion systems, are illustrated in the parametrically driven complex Ginzburg-Landau equation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Phase-dependent interaction in a 4-level atomic configuration

We study a four-level atomic scheme interacting with four lasers in a closed-loop configuration with a $\diamondsuit$ (diamond) geometry. We investigate the influence of the laser phases on the steady state. We show that, depending on the phases and the decay characteristic, the system can exhibit a variety of behaviors, including population inversion and complete depletion of an atomic state. We explain the phenomena in terms of multi-photon interference. We compare our results with the phase-dependent phenomena in the double-$\Lambda$ scheme, as studied in [Korsunsky and Kosachiov, Phys. Rev A {\bf 60}, 4996 (1999)]. This investigation may be useful for developing non-linear optical devices, and for the spectroscopy and laser-cooling of alkali-earth atoms.Comment: 4 figure

Coherence build up and laser thresholds from nanolasers to macroscopic lasers

We detail the derivation of nanolaser models that include coherent and incoherent variables and predict the existence of a laser threshold, irrespective of cavity size and emitter number, for both single- and multi-electron systems. The growth in photon number in the lasing mode is driven by an increase in correlation between absorption and emission processes, leading to the onset of self-sustained stimulated emission (laser threshold), followed, in turn, by a correlation decrease and ending with the dominance of coherent emission. The first-order coherence $g^{(1)}$ steadily increases, as the pump grows towards the laser threshold value, and reaches unity at or beyond threshold. The transition toward coherent emission becomes increasingly sharp as the number of emitters and of the coupled electromagnetic cavity modes increase, continuously connecting, in the thermodynamic limit, the physics of nano- and macroscopic lasers at threshold. Our predictions are in remarkable agreement with experiments whose first-order coherence measurements have so far been explained only phenomenologically. A consistent evaluation of different threshold indicators provides a tool for a correct interpretation of experimental measurements at the onset of laser action.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure