Effects of spatial inhomogeneities on the dynamics of cavity solitons in quadratically nonlinear media

We study the dynamics of cavity solitons under the influence of spatial inhomogeneities and derive generalized equations of motions. For perturbations large compared to the soliton size we find the modulus of the soliton velocity to be proportional to the gradient of the respective perturbation and that the proportionality coefficient changes sign when the soliton peak power drives the cavity beyond the resonance. For short scale perturbations solitons may be trapped at the extrema of the inhomogeneities. Shape and stability of these trapped solitons can be quasianalytically described by means of a perturbation theory. If both types of perturbations act solitons are either trapped or move depending on the strength of the respective perturbation. In the framework of a quasiparticle approach this dynamics is governed by a differential equation that holds for particle motion in a strongly viscous fluid under the action of a constant and harmonically varying force. We also show that in addition to acquiring a velocity the very existence conditions of the solitons (hysteresis curve) are affected by both kinds of perturbations. We find good quantitative agreement between our analytical results and numerical findings, which were obtained for a two wave interaction in a cavity filled with a quadratically nonlinear material.