Nonlinear Optics and Laser Emission through Random Media

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Introduction

   • Viola Folli

   Pages 1-5

3. Non-Resonant Systems

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 7-7

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4. Non-resonant systems

   1. Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 9-20

   2. Weakly Disordered Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 21-28

   3. Disordered Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 29-39

   4. Scale-Free Nonlinearity in Disordered Ferroelectrics

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 41-49

5. Resonant Systems

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 51-51

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6. Resonant systems

   1. The Maxwell-Bloch Equations

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 53-60

   2. Disordered Maxwell-Bloch Equations

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 61-70

   3. Glassy Behavior of Laser

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 71-79

   4. The Granular Laser

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 81-113

   5. Conclusions

      • Viola Folli

      Pages 115-117

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.

• Complex Photonics
• Manipulation of Optical Systems
• Non-linear Disordered Systems
• Non-linear Emerging Phenomena
• Random Lasers
• Spin Glass Theory

From the reviews:

“This 117 pages long monograph from the series ‘Springer theses’, ‘a selection of the very best Ph.D. thesis from around the world and across the physical sciences’, treats the interplay between light and matter in the interaction with intense fields taking into account the rule of nonlinearity and disorder. … The book is intended for newcomers in this field as well as for professionals who are interested in more detailed background information, and could stimulate new developments.” (Georg Hebermehl, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1259, 2013)

• , Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy

  Viola Folli

Dr. Viola Folli is a Post Doctoral scientist working on the theory of nonlinear disordered systems, and on experiments on Random Lasers in the lab of the Institute for Complex Systems, led by Prof. Dr. Claudio Conti, at the Department of Physics of the University of Rome – La Sapienza. The program encompasses applying paradigms and methods from the science of complex systems to light propagation, and investigating the development of complexity and self-organization in nonlinear waves.

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