Thermalization and Bose-Einstein condensation of quantum light in bulk nonlinear media

Year: 2016

Authors: Chiocchetta A., Larre PE., Carusotto I.

Autors Affiliation: SISSA, Int Sch Adv Studies, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy;‎ Ist Nazl Fis Nucl, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy;‎ Univ Trento, INO, CNR, BEC Ctr, Via Sommarive 14, I-38123 Povo, Italy;‎ Univ Trento, Dipartimento Fis, Via Sommarive 14, I-38123 Povo, Italy

Abstract: We study the thermalization and the Bose-Einstein condensation of a paraxial, spectrally narrow beam of quantum light propagating in a lossless bulk Kerr medium. The spatiotemporal evolution of the quantum optical field is ruled by a Heisenberg equation analogous to the quantum nonlinear Schrodinger equation of dilute atomic Bose gases. Correspondingly, in the weak-nonlinearity regime, the phase-space density evolves according to the Boltzmann equation. Expressions for the thermalization time and for the temperature and the chemical potential of the eventual Bose-Einstein distribution are found. After discussing experimental issues, we introduce an optical setup allowing the evaporative cooling of a guided beam of light towards Bose-Einstein condensation. This might serve as a novel source of coherent light. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2016

Journal/Review: EPL

Volume: 115 (2)      Pages from: 24002-1  to: 24002-6

KeyWords: THERMODYNAMIC DESCRIPTION; PHOTONS
DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/115/24002

Citations: 21
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