Active Control of Femtosecond Soliton Molecules

Mode-locked lasers are a paramount example of dissipative nonlinear systems that support bound-states of multiple solitons, often referred as "soliton molecules" [1,2,3]. Previously hidden, internal dynamics can now be accessed by employing the time-stretch dispersive Fourier transform (TS-DFT) and spectral interferometry — enabling the tracking of pulse separations and relative phases in real-time [4,5]. Oscillatory internal motions, akin to molecular vibrations, have previously been tracked — prompting the question whether such internal oscillations can be externally excited and ultimately be controlled.