Nonlinear Optics Of Random Media

Nonlinear Optics of Random Media reviews recent advances in in one of the most prominent fields of physics. It provides an outline of the basic models of irregular structures of random inhomogeneous media and the approaches used to describe their linear electromagnetic properties. Nonlinearities in random media are also discussed. The chapters can be read independently, so scientists and students interested in a specific problem can go directly to the relevant text.

Disorder is everywhere, inherently present in nature, and is commonly believed to be a synonymous with disturbance. As a consequence, the methodical and customary study of the dynamics of the electromagnetic field, both in the linear and nonlinear optical regimes, leans to rule out it from the treatment. On the other hand, nonlinearity enriches the physical disciplines and brings them closer to reality with respect to the linear approximation. Nonlinearity allows to stimulate a wide and rich ensemble of optical responses that beautifies the role of matter in the active processes with electromagnetic fields. Independently of each other, both of these mechanisms foster localization of light. What happens when light enlightens their synergistic interaction? When pushed together, light, disorder and nonlinearity make new and intriguing phenomena emerge. This text provides a comprehensive investigation of the role of disorder in the nonlinear optical propagation both in transparent media and lasers. Eventually, disorder promotes and enhances complex nonlinear dynamics opening new perspectives in applied research driven by the processes of localization of the electromagnetic field. The first experimental study of laser emission in granular media unveils how randomness magnifies and largely affect laser-matter interactions. Viola Folli in her research work touches and deepens the leading milestones of the new science named Complex Photonics.

The contributors to the book are world best experts in the optics of random media; they provide a state-of-the-art review of recent developments in the field including nonlinear optical and magneto-optical properties, Raman and hyper-Raman scattering, laser action, plasmon excitation and localized giant fields, imaging and spectroscopy of random media

This book is on the nonlinear random medium analysis that includes subtopics of terahertz imaging, inverse scattering, plasmonics, quantum optics/communication laser modes, and terahertz photonic antennas. Here in this book, a mathematical framework is developed to analyze the impact of dimensions and chemical potential on nano-antenna channels.

The book is designed to serve as a textbook for courses offered to upper-undergraduate students enrolled in physics. The first edition of this book was published in 2014. As there is a demand for the next edition, it is quite natural to take note of the several advances that have occurred in the subject over the past five years and to decide which of these are appropriate for inclusion at the textbook level, given the fundamental nature and the significance of the subject area. This is the prime motivation for bringing out a revised second edition. Among the newer mechanisms and materials, the book introduces the super-continuum generation, which arises from an excellent interplay of the various mechanisms of optical nonlinearity. The topics covered in this book are quantum mechanics of nonlinear interaction of matter and radiation, formalism and phenomenology of nonlinear wave mixing processes, optical phase conjugation and applications, self-focusing and self-phase modulation and their role in pulse modification, nonlinear absorption mechanisms, and optical limiting applications, photonic switching and bi-stability, and physical mechanisms leading to a nonlinear response in a variety of materials. This book has emerged from an attempt to address the requirement of presenting the subject at the college level. This textbook includes rigorous features such as the elucidation of relevant basic principles of physics; a clear exposition of the ideas involved at an appropriate level; coverage of the physical mechanisms of non-linearity; updates on physical mechanisms and emerging photonic materials and emphasis on the experimental study of nonlinear interactions. The detailed coverage and pedagogical tools make this an ideal textbook for students and researchers enrolled in physics and related courses.

Optical materials with large values of non-linear susceptibilities and fast responses are in great demand in industrial applications, such as non-linear optical switching devices for use in photonics and real-time coherent optical signal processors, optical limiters, and so on. In general, many applications of non-linear optics that have been demonstrated under controlled laboratory conditions could become practical for technological uses if such materials were available. It is usually believed that an effective enhanced non-linear optical response can appear in a composite material in which at least one component should possess an inherent non-linear optical response. Thus, the common way to develop new non-linear optical materials is to seek materials in which the components possess an inherently large non-linear optical response. In contrast, the author has theoretically exploited some new non-linear optical materials, e.g., colloidal nanocrystals with strong lattice effects, metallic films with inhomogeneous microstructures adjusted by ion doping or temperature gradient, composites of graded (and/or shape-anisotropic) nanoparticles, etc. The proposed materials are difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional, naturally occurring materials or random composites widely discussed in the literature. This book presents a first-hand review of the latest developments in this field.

Random lasers are the simplest sources of stimulated emission without cavity, with the feedback provided by scattering in a gain medium. First proposed in the late 1960s, random lasers have grown to a large research field. This book reviews the history and the state of the art of random lasers, provides an outline of the basic models describing their behavior, and describes the recent advances in the field. The major focus of the book is on solid-state random lasers. However, it also briefly describes random lasers based on liquid dyes with scatterers. The chapters of the book are almost independent of each other. So, the scientists or engineers interested in any particular aspect of random lasers can read directly the relevant section. Researchers entering the field of random lasers will find in the book an overview of the field of study. Scientists working in the field can use the book as a reference source.