Fast and localized all-optical frequency switch based on synchronization of Cavity Solitons: A numerical study

Modulation response of Cavity Solitons (CSs) is numerically investigated, individually and in the presence of a second CS, in an injected Vertical-Cavity-Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) above laser threshold. By localized harmonic modulation, we show that these self-sustained oscillators can be synchronized when their interaction is unidirectional, i. e. modulation amplitude of one of the CSs is larger than that of the other. We propose a CS-based high-speed and localized all-optical frequency switch using the fact that the driven CS adopts the oscillation frequency of the driver CS when they synchronize. The performance of the proposed switch is investigated through different ratios for modulation amplitudes (forcing), frequency detunings and separation distances between two CSs. Switching speed as low as 10 picoseconds is obtained by optimally chosen values of the mentioned effective parameters.