Spatial semiconductor-resonator solitons

We demonstrate experimentally and numerically the existence spatial solitons in multiple-quantum-well semiconductor microresonators driven by an external coherent optical field. We discuss stability of the semiconductor-resonator solitons over a wide spectral range around the band edge. We demonstrate the manipulation of such solitons: switching solitons on and off by coherent as well as incoherent light; reducing the light power necessary to sustain and switch a soliton, by optical pumping.