Two-dimensional solitons in B-class lasers with saturable absorption

Abstract

Localized radiation structures under conditions of a semiconductor laser with saturable absorption and a vertical cavity with a large Fresnel number are analyzed numerically and analytically. The boundaries of the region of existence and stability of transversely two-dimensional solitions, the boundary of transition to a moving state, and the boundary of the Andronov-Hopf bifurcation are found. Stable fundamental and vortical (topologically charged) solitons are obtained in a range of relaxation times of the nonlinearities of the media up to 400 lifetimes of a photon in the cavity. These solitons were obtained under the condition that the chosen medium with saturable absorption has a slower response than the active medium of the laser. Otherwise, a rapidly moving solition is formed, which is similar in its properties to a combustion wave. Properties of such a rapid motion along the aperture can be useful for optical data processing.