Theory of filter-induced modulation instability in driven passive optical resonators

Abstract: We present the theory of modulation instability induced by spectrally dependent losses (optical filters) in passive driven nonlinear fiber ring resonators. Starting from an Ikeda map description of the propagation equation and boundary conditions, we derive a mean field model - a generalised Lugiato-Lefever equation - which reproduces with great accuracy the predictions of the map. The effects on instability gain and comb generation of the different control parameters such as dispersion, cavity detuning, filter spectral position and bandwidth are discussed.