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Laser filamentation as a new phase transition universality class
W Ettoumi1, J Kasparian2, J-P Wolf1
1Université de Genève, GAP-Biophotonics, Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Physical Review Letters
|February 28, 2015
Summary
The onset of laser multiple filamentation exhibits critical phenomena, akin to a phase transition. This discovery offers a novel platform for human-scale, two-dimensional statistical physics experiments.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear Optics
- Statistical Physics
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Laser multiple filamentation is a complex nonlinear optical phenomenon.
- Understanding its initiation is crucial for controlling high-intensity laser propagation.
- Existing models do not fully capture the transition to multifilamentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the onset of laser multiple filamentation as a critical phenomenon.
- To experimentally and numerically characterize this transition using critical exponents.
- To investigate its deviation from established universality classes.
Main Methods:
- Experimental measurements of critical exponents during filamentation onset.
- Numerical simulations to replicate and analyze the phenomenon.
- Calculation of seven distinct critical exponents.
Main Results:
- The onset of laser multiple filamentation is identified as a critical phenomenon.
- Seven critical exponents were measured, characterizing this phase transition.
- The observed transition does not conform to any known universality class.
Conclusions:
- Laser multiple filamentation onset represents a novel phase transition.
- This system provides a unique, human-scale platform for 2D statistical physics experiments.
- The findings open new avenues for exploring critical phenomena in optics.
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