Switching dynamics of dissipative cnoidal waves in dual-coupled microresonators

Abstract

Dual-coupled structure is typically used to actively change the local dispersion of microresonator through controllable avoided mode crossings (AMXs). In this paper, we investigate the switchability of dissipative cnoidal waves (DCWs) based on dual-coupled microresonators. The switching dynamics of DCWs are numerically simulated using two sets of nonlinear coupled-mode equations. It is found that the pulse number of DCWs can only be decreased (i.e. switched unidirectionally) when working as perfect soliton crystals and can either be decreased or increased (i.e. switched bidirectionally) when working as Turing rolls. Moreover, the stable regions of DCWs can be greatly expanded due to the existence of AMXs. The switchability of DCWs would further liberate the application potential of microcombs in a wide range of fields, including frequency metrology, optical communications, and signal-processing systems.