Cavity solitons in semiconductor microcavities: Fundamental and applicative aspects

Cavity solitons appear as stationary, isolated peaks of light superimposed onto a homogeneous background field in the transverse profile of the coherent field transmitted or reflected by a non-linear resonator. These self-organised structures are theoretically predicted and simulated in a broad area multi-quantum-well vertical microresonator. We develop models suited to describe the macroscopic properties of the medium and the nonlinear interaction with the coherent field. Parametric domains and operational regimes for stable solitons are investigated along with some quantitative appreciation of their characteristics. Intrinsic stability properties of solitons are investigated by means of semi-analytical techniques and this allows to describe the destabilising mechanisms for solitons, mutual interaction properties, their response to perturbations and some of their dynamical features.