Generation and dynamics of one- and two-dimensional cavity solitons in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with a saturable absorber and frequency-selective feedback

Cavity solitons are predicted in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with a saturable absorber and coupled to an external frequency-selective feedback element. An entirely variational-method-based analytical study of the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation—the governing equation of the system—gives rise to one- and two-dimensional cavity solitons. Both types of cavity solitons are verified stable by Lyapunov stability analysis. Stability regions are identified for both types and are found to shrink for higher dimensions. Split-step Fourier-method-based direct numerical analysis of the governing equation exhibits matching results for the existence and stability of the cavity solitons. Cavity soliton interaction has been studied numerically. All-optical control on cavity solitons has been demonstrated by introducing a phase gradient. Cavity solitons thus generated have potential applications in optical information technology.