In many disciplines, states that emerge in open systems far from equilibrium are determined by a few global parameters^1,2. These states can often mimic thermodynamic equilibrium, a classic example being the oscillation threshold of a laser³ that resembles a phase transition in condensed matter. However, many classes of states cannot form spontaneously in dissipative systems, and this is the case for cavity solitons² that generally need to be induced by external perturbations, as in the case of optical memories^4,5. In the past decade, these highly localized states have enabled important advancements in microresonator-based optical frequency combs^6,7. However, the very advantages that make cavity solitons attractive for memories—their inability to form spontaneously from noise—have created fundamental challenges. As sources, microcombs require spontaneous and reliable initiation into a desired state that is intrinsically robust^8–20. Here we show that the slow non-linearities of a free-running microresonator-filtered fibre laser²¹ can transform temporal cavity solitons into the system’s dominant attractor. This phenomenon leads to reliable self-starting oscillation of microcavity solitons that are naturally robust to perturbations, recovering spontaneously even after complete disruption. These emerge repeatably and controllably into a large region of the global system parameter space in which specific states, highly stable over long timeframes, can be achieved.

Nanophotonics is a rapidly developing field of research with many suggestions for a design of nanoantennas, sensors and miniature metadevices. Despite many proposals for passive nanophotonic devices, the efficient coupling of light to nanoscale optical structures remains a major challenge. In this article, we propose a nanoscale laser based on a tightly confined anapole mode. By harnessing the non-radiating nature of the anapole state, we show how to engineer nanolasers based on InGaAs nanodisks as on-chip sources with unique optical properties. Leveraging on the near-field character of anapole modes, we demonstrate a spontaneously polarized nanolaser able to couple light into waveguide channels with four orders of magnitude intensity than classical nanolasers, as well as the generation of ultrafast (of 100 fs) pulses via spontaneous mode locking of several anapoles. Anapole nanolasers offer an attractive platform for monolithically integrated, silicon photonics sources for advanced and efficient nanoscale circuitry.

Ghost imaging, based on single-pixel detection and multiple pattern illumination, is a crucial investigative tool in difficult-to-access wavelength regions. In the terahertz domain, where high-resolution imagers are mostly unavailable, ghost imaging is an optimal approach to embed the temporal dimension, creating a “hyperspectral” imager. In this framework, high resolution is mostly out of reach. Hence, it is particularly critical to developing practical approaches for microscopy. Here we experimentally demonstrate time-resolved nonlinear ghost imaging, a technique based on near-field, optical-to-terahertz nonlinear conversion and detection of illumination patterns. We show how space–time coupling affects near-field time-domain imaging, and we develop a complete methodology that overcomes fundamental systematic reconstruction issues. Our theoretical-experimental platform enables high-fidelity subwavelength imaging and carries relaxed constraints on the nonlinear generation crystal thickness. Our work establishes a rigorous framework to reconstruct hyperspectral images of complex samples inaccessible through standard fixed-time methods.

Laser cavity-soliton microcombs are robust optical pulsed sources, usually implemented with a microresonator-filtered fibre laser. In such a configuration, a nonlinear microcavity converts the narrowband pulse resulting from bandwidth-limited amplification to a background-free broadband microcomb. Here, we theoretically and experimentally study the soliton conversion efficiency between the narrowband input pulse and the two outputs of a four-port integrated microcavity, namely the ‘Drop’ and ‘Through’ ports. We simultaneously measure on-chip, single-soliton conversion efficiencies of 45% and 25% for the two broadband comb outputs at the ‘Drop’ and ‘Through’ ports of a 48.9 GHz free-spectral range micro-ring resonator, obtaining a total conversion efficiency of 72%.

Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy systems are widely employed to retrieve the chemical and material composition of a sample. This is single-handedly the most important driving motivation in the field and has largely contributed to shaping THz science as an independent subject. The limited availability of high-resolution imaging devices, however, still represents a major technological challenge in this promising field of research. In this theoretical work, we tackle this challenge by developing a novel nonlinear ghost imaging approach that conceptually outperforms established single-pixel imaging protocols at inaccessible wavelengths. Our methodology combines nonlinear THz generation with time-resolved field measurements, as enabled by state-of-the-art time domain spectroscopy techniques. As an ideal application target, we consider hyperspectral THz imaging of semitransparent samples with nonnegligible delay contribution, and we demonstrate how time-resolved, full-wave acquisition enables accurate spatiotemporal reconstruction of complex inhomogeneous samples.