Effects of self- and cross-phase modulation on the spontaneous symmetry breaking of light in ring resonators

Abstract: We describe spontaneous symmetry breaking in the powers of two optical modes coupled into a ring resonator, using a pair of coupled Lorentzian equations, featuring tunable self- and cross-phase modulation terms. We investigate a wide variety of nonlinear materials by changing the ratio of the self- and cross-phase interaction coefficients. Static and dynamic effects range from the number and stability of stationary states to the onset and nature of oscillations. Minimal conditions to observe symmetry breaking are provided in terms of the ratio of the self-/cross-phase coefficients, detuning, and input power. Different ratios of the nonlinear coefficients also influence the dynamical regime, where they can induce or suppress bifurcations and oscillations. A generalised description on this kind is useful for the development of all-optical components, such as isolators and oscillators, constructed from a wide variety of optical media in ring resonators.