Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1907.05780 · Physical Review Research

Controlled two-mode emission from the interplay of driving and thermalization in a dye-filled photonic cavity

M. Vlaho, H. A. M. Leymann, D. Vorberg, A. Eckardt

Published Dec 20, 2019• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In a system of photons in a dye-filled cavity the competition between inhomogeneous mode-selective pumping and thermalization with the dye solution is investigated. Lasing in the pumped mode at a first pump threshold is found to assist thermalization-induced photon condensation in the ground mode at a second threshold. This effect can be exploited for controlling two-mode emission.

DOI
10.1103/physrevresearch.1.033191

Related papers

Nonequilibrium mode competition in a pumped dye-filled cavity

M. Vlaho, André Eckardt

We consider a homogeneously pumped photon gas coupled to a dye medium and investigate how its steady state is affected when varying the pump power, the photon cavity lifetime, and the cutoff frequency. We study how the interplay between pumping, loss, and dye-induced thermalization influences the selection of the cavity modes that acquire large occupation. Depending on the parameter regime, the latter can be related either to lasing of (typically multiple) modes or to equilibrium-like photon condensation in the ground mode. We calculate and explain the phase diagram of the system, with a particular emphasis on the role played by mode competition that occurs in the regime of weak cavity loss.

arXiv:2109.02988•Physical Review A•Dec 15, 2021•5 citations

Photon condensation from thermal sources and the limits of heat engines

Luísa Toledo Tude, Emily Haughton, Paul R. Eastham

The trapping and cooling of photon gases in microcavities has been used to create Bose-Einstein condensates. We investigate the conditions required for condensation in dye-filled microcavities, with photon populations created either by driving a transition of the dye, or by coupling the cavity modes to a thermal photon reservoir such as sunlight. We find that the threshold pump temperature, above which condensation appears, is determined by the second law of thermodynamics. The minimum achievable threshold is that of a reversible three-level heat engine, which we show arises in the dye-pumped case, and for pumping of the modes of a two-level cavity. For a many-level cavity condensation occurs at a similar but higher temperature. Our results show that photon condensates can be produced by pumping with incoherent thermal sources, opening possibilities for coherent light generation, energy harvesting, and experimental studies of quantum heat engines.

arXiv:2507.19128•Physical Review A•Dec 10, 2025•0 citations

Transport and localization of light inside a dye-filled microcavity

Himadri Shekhar Dhar, João D. Rodrigues, Benjamin T. Walker +3 more

The driven-dissipative nature of light-matter interaction inside a multimode, dye-filled microcavity makes it an ideal system to study nonequilibrium phenomena, such as transport. In this work, we investigate how light is efficiently transported inside such a microcavity, mediated by incoherent absorption and emission processes. In particular, we show that there exist two distinct regimes of transport, viz. conductive and localized, arising from the complex interplay between the thermalizing effect of the dye molecules and the nonequilibrium influence of driving and loss. The propagation of light in the conductive regime occurs when several localized cavity modes undergo dynamical phase transitions to a condensed, or lasing, state. Furthermore, we observe that, while such transport is robust for weak disorder in the cavity potential, strong disorder can lead to localization of light even under good thermalizing conditions. Importantly, the exhibited transport and localization of light is a manifestation of the nonequilibrium dynamics rather than any coherent interference in the system.

arXiv:2009.00094•Physical Review A•Nov 25, 2020•5 citations

Experimental evidence for inhomogeneous pumping and energy-dependent effects in photon Bose-Einstein condensation

Jakov Marelic, Robert A. Nyman

Light thermalized at room temperature in an optically pumped, dye-filled microcavity resembles a model system of noninteracting Bose-Einstein condensation in the presence of dissipation. We have experimentally investigated some of the steady-state properties of this unusual state of light and found features which do not match the available theoretical descriptions. We have seen that the critical pump power for condensation depends on the pump beam geometry, being lower for smaller pump beams. Far below threshold, both intracavity photon number and thermalized photon cloud size depend on pump beam size, with optimal coupling when the pump beam matches the thermalized cloud size. We also note that the critical pump power for condensation depends on the cavity cutoff wavelength and longitudinal mode number, which suggests that energy-dependent thermalization and loss mechanisms are important.

arXiv:1410.6822•Physical Review A•Mar 12, 2015•98 citations

Nonequilibrium Model of Photon Condensation

Peter Kirton, Jonathan Keeling

We develop a nonequilibrium model of condensation and lasing of photons in a dye filled microcavity. We examine in detail the nature of the thermalization process induced by absorption and emission of photons by the dye molecules, and investigate when the photons are able to reach a thermal equilibrium Bose-Einstein distribution. At low temperatures, or large cavity losses, the absorption and emission rates are too small to allow the photons to reach thermal equilibrium and the behavior becomes more like that of a conventional laser.

arXiv:1303.3459•Physical Review Letters•Sep 4, 2013•162 citations

Decondensation in Nonequilibrium Photonic Condensates: When Less Is More

Henry J. Hesten, Robert A. Nyman, Florian Mintert

We investigate the steady state of a system of photons in a pumped dye-filled microcavity. By varying pump and thermalization the system can be tuned between Bose-Einstein condensation, multimode condensation, and lasing. We present a rich nonequilibrium phase diagram which exhibits transitions between these phases, including decondensation of individual modes under conditions that would typically favor condensation.

arXiv:1705.02173•Physical Review Letters•Jan 23, 2018•41 citations
In a system of photons in a dye-filled cavity the competition between inhomogeneous mode-selective pumping and thermalization with the dye solution is investigated. Lasing in the pumped mode at a first pump threshold is found to assist thermalization-induced photon condensation in the ground mode at a second threshold. This effect can be exploited for controlling two-mode emission.
We consider a homogeneously pumped photon gas coupled to a dye medium and investigate how its steady state is affected when varying the pump power, the photon cavity lifetime, and the cutoff frequency. We study how the interplay between pumping, loss, and dye-induced thermalization influences the selection of the cavity modes that acquire large occupation. Depending on the parameter regime, the latter can be related either to lasing of (typically multiple) modes or to equilibrium-like photon condensation in the ground mode. We calculate and explain the phase diagram of the system, with a particular emphasis on the role played by mode competition that occurs in the regime of weak cavity loss.
The trapping and cooling of photon gases in microcavities has been used to create Bose-Einstein condensates. We investigate the conditions required for condensation in dye-filled microcavities, with photon populations created either by driving a transition of the dye, or by coupling the cavity modes to a thermal photon reservoir such as sunlight. We find that the threshold pump temperature, above which condensation appears, is determined by the second law of thermodynamics. The minimum achievable threshold is that of a reversible three-level heat engine, which we show arises in the dye-pumped case, and for pumping of the modes of a two-level cavity. For a many-level cavity condensation occurs at a similar but higher temperature. Our results show that photon condensates can be produced by pumping with incoherent thermal sources, opening possibilities for coherent light generation, energy harvesting, and experimental studies of quantum heat engines.
The driven-dissipative nature of light-matter interaction inside a multimode, dye-filled microcavity makes it an ideal system to study nonequilibrium phenomena, such as transport. In this work, we investigate how light is efficiently transported inside such a microcavity, mediated by incoherent absorption and emission processes. In particular, we show that there exist two distinct regimes of transport, viz. conductive and localized, arising from the complex interplay between the thermalizing effect of the dye molecules and the nonequilibrium influence of driving and loss. The propagation of light in the conductive regime occurs when several localized cavity modes undergo dynamical phase transitions to a condensed, or lasing, state. Furthermore, we observe that, while such transport is robust for weak disorder in the cavity potential, strong disorder can lead to localization of light even under good thermalizing conditions. Importantly, the exhibited transport and localization of light is a manifestation of the nonequilibrium dynamics rather than any coherent interference in the system.
Light thermalized at room temperature in an optically pumped, dye-filled microcavity resembles a model system of noninteracting Bose-Einstein condensation in the presence of dissipation. We have experimentally investigated some of the steady-state properties of this unusual state of light and found features which do not match the available theoretical descriptions. We have seen that the critical pump power for condensation depends on the pump beam geometry, being lower for smaller pump beams. Far below threshold, both intracavity photon number and thermalized photon cloud size depend on pump beam size, with optimal coupling when the pump beam matches the thermalized cloud size. We also note that the critical pump power for condensation depends on the cavity cutoff wavelength and longitudinal mode number, which suggests that energy-dependent thermalization and loss mechanisms are important.
We develop a nonequilibrium model of condensation and lasing of photons in a dye filled microcavity. We examine in detail the nature of the thermalization process induced by absorption and emission of photons by the dye molecules, and investigate when the photons are able to reach a thermal equilibrium Bose-Einstein distribution. At low temperatures, or large cavity losses, the absorption and emission rates are too small to allow the photons to reach thermal equilibrium and the behavior becomes more like that of a conventional laser.