Photon Statistics of a Random Laser

Muhammad Suhail Zubairy

Gabriel Bédard

Yifei Qi, Runhao Li, Taichao Wang +4 more

In this work, a comprehensive experimental investigation of the photon statistics in random fiber laser (RFL) is conducted using the classical temporal second-order correlation function, and its unique evolutionary behavior is unveiled for the first time.

Qiang Ji, Yuxi Pang, Weiming Zhang +4 more

Photon superbunching, distinguished by second-order coherence values far exceeding the Gaussian thermal limit, represents a highly desirable resource for quantum optics and correlation-based imaging technologies. However, existing approaches typically rely on fragile experimental platforms, inefficient nonlinear conversion processes, or mechanically complex optical architectures. Here, we demonstrate a fully fiber-integrated superbunched random fiber laser (SRFL) in which intrinsic Rayleigh scattering cooperatively interacts with cascaded stimulated Brillouin scattering and quasi-phase-matched four-wave mixing to tailor extreme photon statistics. The SRFL generates a multi-wavelength comb, in which individual spectral components exhibit widely tunable photon bunching, with the second-order coherence g(2)(0) continuously controlled from ~1 to ~26 by tuning the pump power, spectral order and diffusion length. Moreover, we establish a direct correlation between photonic phase transitions (quantified by the Parisi overlap order parameter) and the emergence of superbunching, thereby bridging macroscopic disorder physics and microscopic photon statistics. Finally, we employ the superbunched emission for temporal ghost imaging, realizing high-fidelity temporal object reconstruction with a substantial reduction in required ensemble averaging. These findings validate random fiber lasers as a robust, scalable, and integrated platform for generating extreme photon statistics and unlock new avenues for correlation-enhanced photonic sensing and quantum optics investigations in complex photonic systems.

A. Lukš, Vlasta Perinov

The model of a random laser is reconsidered which utilises Langevin equations as appropriate for calculations of photon statistics. A "probabilistic description" is outlined, i.e., equations governing the temporal evolution of the probabilities of photon numbers in the radiation modes and the densities of the excited atoms in the medium. The usual procedure of numerical solution is extended by monitoring numbers of the photons absorbed by a photodetector.

Richard M. Sillitto