Cavity Soliton Molecules and All-Optical Push-Broom Effect

We present an improved model for cavity soliton generation by coupling frequency-selective feedback to a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser with a saturable absorber. The frequency-selective feedback is found to lower down the threshold pump power for cavity soliton generation and eventually to broaden the stability regime. A new dynamics of cavity solitons is revealed in form of “all-optical push-broom effect.” Also, stable bound states of cavity solitons that resemble linear diatomic and polyatomic molecules are predicted with their stability regions marked. The findings can be exploited for experimental realization of a soliton force microscope and all-optical memory devices.