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Automation of Mode Locking in a Nonlinear Polarization Rotation Fiber Laser through Output Polarization Measurements

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Thermalization of Light's Orbital Angular Momentum in Nonlinear Multimode Waveguide Systems.

Fan O Wu¹, Qi Zhong¹, Huizhong Ren¹

¹CREOL/College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA.

Physical Review Letters

|April 8, 2022

Summary

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) in optical fibers thermalizes, leading to a generalized Rayleigh-Jeans distribution. This thermalization can favor higher-order modes, challenging previous assumptions and offering new insights into light-matter interactions.

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Area of Science:

Nonlinear optics
Quantum optics
Thermodynamics

Background:

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) describes the helical phase front of light.
Light propagation in optical fibers can exhibit complex nonlinear dynamics.
Understanding thermalization in optical systems is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the thermalization of OAM in nonlinear optical waveguides.
To determine the resulting power distribution across different OAM modes.
To explore the thermodynamic principles governing OAM exchange.

Main Methods:

Theoretical analysis of OAM thermalization in cylindrical multimode waveguides.
Derivation of a generalized Rayleigh-Jeans distribution for power modal occupancies.
Numerical simulations of nonlinear interactions between optical wave fronts with opposite OAM.

Main Results:

OAM thermalization follows a generalized Rayleigh-Jeans distribution, characterized by a unique temperature.
Higher-order OAM modes can be favored over the ground state, even at positive temperatures.
Angular momentum exchange between wave fronts is governed by OAM temperature differences, aligning with the second law of thermodynamics.

Conclusions:

The study reveals novel thermalization dynamics for OAM in optical fibers.
Results suggest potential for high-power optical sources with controlled OAM.
Findings offer a framework for understanding complex nonlinear multimode systems.