Laser solitons: topological and quantum phenomena

A review of the properties of dissipative solitons with different dimensions and various topological characteristics in lasers and laser systems with saturable absorption is presented. Unlike conservative solitons, laser solitons are attractors, the increased stability of which is caused by the balance of energy inflow and outflow. The topology of laser solitons is due to their complex internal structure, which is determined by the field of radiation energy fluxes, and the energy characteristics are an important addition to the topological characteristics. The equation of their dynamics—the generalized Ginzburg–Landau equation—reflects the basic features of open nonlinear systems of various natures. The topological features of solitons expand the range of manifestations of their quantum fluctuations.