Soliton ensembles in a nonlinear resonator

Structure formation in a fibre resonator synchronously driven by short ligh t pulses is considered. Light pulses develop a rich substructure which, for the case of anomalous fibre dispersion, can take the form of an ensemble o f bright solitons which may exist in an irregular state (soliton gas) or as a regular array. If the fibre dispersion is normal, an ensemble of dark so litons in an irregular state can exist. but it cannot take the form of an o rdered array. Cavity-dressed modulational instability at normal fibre dispe rsion is observed.