We study the influence of field diffusion on the spatial localized structures (cavity solitons) in bidirectional lasers. We find threefold positive role of the diffusion: 1) it allows for the existence of solitons in cavities with equal losses for the two fields; 2) it increases the stability range of the individual (isolated) solitons; and 3) it reduces the long-range interaction between cavity solitons, allowing for the independent manipulation (writing and erasing) of individual structures.
(c) 2009 Optical Society of America