Rotating spatio-temporal structures and rotating cavity solitons in scalar and vectorial Kerr resonators
We consider generalisations of the Lugiato-Lefever models for transverse Kerr cavities with one or two field components and pumped by beams carrying optical angular momentum (OAM). These studies complete early investigations that focused on optical parametric oscillators, semiconductor heterostructures and photorefractive materials, respectively [1]. In particular we find analytical expressions that fully describe two-dimensional rotating Turing structures and rotating cavity solitons in single field (scalar) Kerr resonators. Rotating localised states on a transverse ring can be considered as slow light pulses with fully controllable speed and structure for use in optical quantum memories and delay lines.
The inclusion of a second field component in the light-matter interaction inside the cavity offers further degrees of control in the shape, rotation and polarization of the nonlinear structures. Numerical simulations of coupled circularly polarized beams with inputs of equal, opposite and different OAM, result in fully-structured optical beams made of periodic or localised nonlinear structures and a multitude of shapes, phases, polarization, singularities and dynamics. Applications of these rotating structures to particle manipulation, optical beam shaping and photonic devices will also be discussed.
[1] G.-L. Oppo et al., Phys. Rev. E 63, 066209 (2001); R. Kheradmand et al., Opt. Express 11, 3612 (2003); V. Caullet et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 263903 (2012)