We study the nonlinear dynamics of a multimode random laser using the methods of statistical physics of disordered systems. A replica-symmetry breaking phase transition is predicted as a function of the pump intensity. We thus show that light propagating in a random nonlinear medium displays glassy behavior; i.e., the photon gas has a multitude of metastable states and a nonvanishing complexity, corresponding to mode-locking processes in random lasers. The present work reveals the existence of new physical phenomena, and demonstrates how nonlinear optics and random lasers can be a benchmark for the modern theory of complex systems and glasses.
Glassy behaviour of light / Angelani, L; Conti, Claudio; Ruocco, Giancarlo; Zamponi, F.. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - ISSN 0031-9007. - STAMPA. - 96:6(2006), p. 065702. [10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.065702]
Glassy behaviour of light.
CONTI, CLAUDIO;RUOCCO, Giancarlo;ZAMPONI F.
2006
Abstract
We study the nonlinear dynamics of a multimode random laser using the methods of statistical physics of disordered systems. A replica-symmetry breaking phase transition is predicted as a function of the pump intensity. We thus show that light propagating in a random nonlinear medium displays glassy behavior; i.e., the photon gas has a multitude of metastable states and a nonvanishing complexity, corresponding to mode-locking processes in random lasers. The present work reveals the existence of new physical phenomena, and demonstrates how nonlinear optics and random lasers can be a benchmark for the modern theory of complex systems and glasses.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.