Synchronization and amplification enabled by diversity in nonlinear optical systems and the analogy with converse symmetry breaking for coupled oscillators

Abstract

Converse symmetry breaking is a phenomenon occurring in populations of coupled oscillators, where stable and phase-locked symmetric states are possible only if the system itself is not symmetric. In this Letter, the analogy of converse symmetry breaking with amplification processes caused by phase and loss asymmetry for signal and idler waves in nonlinear optical systems is presented.