Fig. 4: Formation dynamics of soliton crystal.

a Measured intracavity power evolution trace. With cavity resonance scanning from longer wavelength to shorter wavelength gradually, the laser-cavity detuning varies from blue detuned to red-detuned regime. Three states are respectively marked as: state i, CW background; state ii, modulated Turing pattern (TP); state iii, soliton crystal (SC). The deterministic "step” in the trace is a characteristic feature of SC formation. b Simulations of the intracavity temporal waveform evolution. Turing combs directly turns to SC state as the pump enters red-detuned regime. c, d Measured temporal (c) and spectral (d) profile in different states: modulated CW background (i), modulated TP (ii), SC (iii). e, f Simulated angular (e) and spectral (f) profile in different states, showing good agreement with the experiment.