"We propose to study the random laser problem. As a lasing system one considers an active gain medium interacting with a light field where the damping of the latter is treated in the spirit of open systems theory, considering a multimode case with the spectral overlap of the modes in the losses term [11]. We approach the problem by using the density matrix formalism, deriving the master equation for the light field in order to find out the detailed description of the laser like emission. The specific character of the field damping and gain effects essentially modifies the master equation in comparison to that of the ordinary laser and thus contributes to the properties of the resulting laser emission. The derivation of the density operator for the field is the main ingredient for describing the quantum statistical properties of the lasing and such a progress represents a great interest for the study of random laser systems."
"We propose to study the random laser problem. As a lasing system one considers an active gain medium interacting with a light field where the damping of the latter is treated in the spirit of open systems theory, considering a multimode case with the spectral overlap of the modes in the losses term [11]. We approach the problem by using the density matrix formalism, deriving the master equation for the light field in order to find out the detailed description of the laser like emission. The specific character of the field damping and gain effects essentially modifies the master equation in comparison to that of the ordinary laser and thus contributes to the properties of the resulting laser emission. The derivation of the density operator for the field is the main ingredient for describing the quantum statistical properties of the lasing and such a progress represents a great interest for the study of random laser systems."
We derive the photon-number probability distribution and the resulting degree of second-order optical coherence for light emission from a uniformly distributed active species within a multiple-light-scattering medium. This is obtained from a master equation describing the probability distribution for photons in the vicinity of position r, traveling with a wave vector k, related, in turn, to a coarse-grained average of the optical Wigner coherence function. Using a simple model for isotropic, spatially uncorrelated scatterers, this reduces to a generalization of the master equation of a conventional laser in which the medium behaves like a random collection of low-quality factor cavities that are coupled by photon diffusion between a given cavity and its neighbors. Laserlike coherence, on average, is obtained in the random laser above a specific pumping threshold. Photon-number statistics above and below the lasing threshold are computed by first assuming that the atomic response to the local electromagnetic fields is nearly instantaneous. Corrections to this simple model, arising from nonadiabatic atomic dynamics, are then estimated. The dependence of the photon statistics on scatterer density, gain concentration, and position within a sample reveal that, on average, increase of the scattering strength (decrease of the photon transport mean free path) in the medium leads to a sharper peak in the local photon-number distribution, characteristic of increased local coherence in the optical field. We also evaluate the coherence of the output field at points outside the random-laser medium. This is a weighted average of radiation emitted at different positions in the sample, exhibiting varying degrees of coherence due to variations in the local pumping intensity.
We have solved a master equation to obtain the diagonal elements of the density matrix for laser light. The master equation represents a generalization of a master equation derived earlier for a single radiation mode interacting with N stationary two-level atoms. The generalization takes into account the pumping scheme which characterizes a three-level laser. For positive temperatures and a lossless cavity, the equilibrium solution of the master equation gives the correct statistical-mechanical description of the atoms and radiation. For negative temperatures, the distribution function for the number of photons in the mode is either exponential or peaked, depending on whether the laser is operating below or above threshold. The calculated intensity fluctuations are in good agreement with semiclassical results for lasers operating slightly above threshold.
Light propagation in matter is described by vibration eigenstates, called modes, which characterize the light-matter interaction. In the specific case of random media, according to the strength of the disorder, the modes can be either extended over the whole system or spatially localized. This disorder-based confinement is called Anderson’s localization.In the first part, we introduce basic notions used along this manuscript. In particular the light-matter interaction requires a semiclassical approach: The electromagnetic field is described by Maxwell’s equations while the quantum nature of matter must be considered. In this thesis open media are studied. In such systems the modal description requires a specific analytic treatment different from closed problems. In the second part, we focus on Anderson-localized modes in open passive random media. Any change of the disorder induces modifications of modes. Therefore, it enables the control over the light properties. Moreover, when inserting an emitter inside an Anderson-localized mode, strong light-matter interaction regimes can be reached. In the third part, active random media, commonly called random lasers, are introduced. Using our experimental achievements, characteristics of random lasers are presented. The notion of mode enables us to describe complex mechanisms involved in the lasing emission. Last, we demonstrate both experimentally and numerically that a non-uniform excitation of random lasers can lead to a control of the properties of the emission. In particular a multimode spectrum for a uniform pumping can be turned into single-mode using an adapted pumping.
In the last decade Anderson Localization of Light and Random Lasing has attracted a variety of interest in the community of condensed matter theory. The fact that a system so inartificial as a thin layer consisting of dust particles, which have amplifying properties, can produce coherent laser emission, is of a simple elegance, which promises new insights in fundamental physics. There is no need of an external feedback mechanism, like in the system of a conventional laser. Whereas several attempts try to enter the subject numerically by considering cavity approximations, this thesis is concerned with building a microscopically self-consistent theory of random lasing. Designing this method, we had to study light localization effects in random media including absorption and gain. Incorporating interference effects by means of Cooperon contributions we derived Anderson localized states for passive media. Mapping this on a system which consists of laser active Mie-scatterers in a passive medium, we found that by incorporation of the Cooperon, we loose the Anderson localization, but the system is weakly localized, which is sufficient for population inversion and stimulated emission.
We have solved a master equation to obtain the diagonal elements of the density matrix for laser light. The master equation represents a generalization of a master equation derived earlier for a single radiation mode interacting with N stationary two-level atoms. The generalization takes into account the pumping scheme which characterizes a three-level laser. For positive temperatures and a lossless cavity, the equilibrium solution of the master equation gives the correct statistical-mechanical description of the atoms and radiation. For negative temperatures, the distribution function for the number of photons in the mode is either exponential or peaked, depending on whether the laser is operating below or above threshold. The calculated intensity fluctuations are in good agreement with semiclassical results for lasers operating slightly above threshold.
The interaction is considered between N stationary two-level atoms and a radiation field described by a single cavity mode. The state vector for the complete system of atoms plus radiation is expressed as a linear superposition of states constructed from a product of photon states in the n representation and products of Pauli spin eigenstates describing all combinations of atoms in the lower and upper energy levels. Equations for the corresponding probability amplitudes are derived by substituting this superposition into the Schr\"odinger equation. The resulting equations are combined into bilinear form and phenomenological damping contributions are added. After the neglect of certain of the bilinear quantities, a master equation is derived which governs the probability Pmn of having m atoms in the lower level and n photons in the mode. This master equation takes account of multiple single-quantum absorption and emission processes but not of simultaneous multiple processes involving two or more atoms at a time. The equation which governs the expected number of photons 〈n〉 derived from the master equation bears a close resemblance to a rate equation. The effect of radiation loss from the cavity is incorporated into the master equation. Numerical calculations for a Q-spoiled laser show that the statistics of the number of photons in the mode bear a qualitative resemblance to Poisson statistics.