Fig. 2: Schematic representation of stochastic Kerr combs.

The combs are in space (a–e) and frequency (f–j), and are at a given time t (snapshot), after simulation of Eq. (1). The upper row displays the total intracavity field power \(| {{{{{\mathcal{E}}}}}}(\theta ){| }^{2}\), while the lower row displays the corresponding stem plot for the modal intensities \(| {{{{{{\mathcal{E}}}}}}}_{{{{{{\rm{out}}}}}},l}{| }^{2}\) in a logarithmic scale (note that they are spectrotemporal snapshots and not Fourier spectra). The noise in the spatiotemporal patterns has been accentuated for the sake of visual clarity. a, f Flat state (no comb). b, g Bright soliton (P_L = 4.00 mW, σ = − 2κ, and ζ₂ = 2π × 2.92 kHz). c, h Dark soliton (P_L = 5.30 mW, σ = − 2.5κ, and ζ₂ = − 2π × 2.92 kHz). d, i Roll pattern of order L = 1 (P_L = 3.09 mW, σ = − κ, and ζ₂ = 2π × 874.7 kHz). e, j Roll pattern of order L = 4 (P_L = 2.27 mW, σ = − κ, and ζ₂ = 2π × 366.4 kHz). The numerical simulations will involve the four cases from Comb 1 to Comb 4.