1,720,980 research outputs found
Gamow vectors explain the shock profile
No full textThe description of shock waves beyond the shock point is a challenge in nonlinear
physics and optics. Finding solutions to the global dynamics of dispersive shock waves is not
always possible due to the lack of integrability. Here we propose a new method based on the
eigenstates (Gamow vectors) of a reversed harmonic oscillator in a rigged Hilbert space. These
vectors allow analytical formulation for the development of undular bores of shock waves in a
nonlinear nonlocal medium. Experiments by a photothermal induced nonlinearity confirm theoretical
predictions: the undulation period as a function of power and the characteristic quantized
decays of Gamow vectors. Our results demonstrate that Gamow vectors are a novel and effective
paradigm for describing extreme nonlinear phenomena
Generalized uncertainty principle and analogue of quantum gravity in optics
No full textThe design of optical systems capable of processing and manipulating ultra-short pulses and ultra-focused beams is highly challenging with far reaching fundamental technological applications. One key obstacle routinely encountered while implementing sub-wavelength optical schemes is how to overcome the limitations set by standard Fourier optics. A strategy to overcome these difficulties is to utilize the concept of a generalized uncertainty principle (G-UP) which has been originally developed to study quantum gravity. In this paper we propose to use the concept of G-UP within the framework of optics to show that the generalized Schrï¿1⁄2dinger equation describing short pulses and ultra-focused beams predicts the existence of a minimal spatial or temporal scale which in turn implies the existence of maximally localized states. Using a Gaussian wavepacket with complex phase, we derive the corresponding generalized uncertainty relation and its maximally localized states. Furthermore, we numerically show that the presence of nonlinearity helps the system to reach its maximal localization. Our results may trigger further theoretical and experimental tests for practical applications and analogues of fundamental physical theories
Time Asymmetric Quantum Mechanics and Shock Waves: Exploring the Irreversibility in Nonlinear Optics
Full text linkThe description of irreversible phenomena is a still debated topic in quantum mechanics. Still nowadays, there is no clear procedure to distinguish the coupling with external baths from the intrinsic irreversibility in isolated systems. In 1928 Gamow introduced states with exponentially decaying observables not belonging to the conventional Hilbert space. These states are named Gamow vectors, and they belong to rigged Hilbert spaces. This review summarizes the contemporary approach using Gamow vectors and rigged Hilbert space formalism as foundations of a generalized “time asymmetric” quantum mechanics. We study the irreversible propagation of specific wave packets and show that the topic is surprisingly related to the problem of irreversibility of shock waves in classical nonlinear evolution. We specifically consider the applications in the field of nonlinear optics. We show that it is possible to emulate irreversible quantum mechanical process by the nonlinear evolution of a laser beam and we provide experimental tests by the generation of dispersive shock waves in highly nonlocal regimes. We demonstrate experimentally the quantization of decay rates predicted by the time-asymmetric quantum mechanics. This work furnishes support to the idea of intrinsically irreversible wave propagation, and to novel tests of the foundations of quantum mechanics
Zel’dovich amplification in a superconducting circuit
Full text linkZel'dovich proposed that electromagnetic (EM) waves with angular momentum reflected from a rotating metallic, lossy cylinder will be amplified. However, we are still lacking a direct experimental EM-wave verification of this fifty-year-old prediction due to the challenging conditions in which the phenomenon manifests itself: The mechanical rotation frequency of the cylinder must be comparable with the EM oscillation frequency. Here, we propose an experimental approach that solves this issue and is predicted to lead to a measurable Zel'dovich amplification with existing superconducting circuit technology. We design a superconducting circuit with low frequency EM modes that couple through free space to a magnetically levitated and spinning microsphere placed at the center of the circuit. We theoretically estimate the circuit EM mode gain and show that rotation of the microsphere can lead to experimentally observable amplification, thus paving the way for the first EM-field experimental demonstration of Zel'dovich amplification.</p
Physical realization of the Glauber quantum oscillator
Full text linkMore than thirty years ago Glauber suggested that the link between the reversible microscopic and the irreversible macroscopic world can be formulated in physical terms through an inverted harmonic oscillator describing quantum amplifiers. Further theoretical studies have shown that the paradigm for irreversibility is indeed the reversed harmonic oscillator. As outlined by Glauber, providing experimental evidence of these idealized physical systems could open the way to a variety of fundamental studies, for example to simulate irreversible quantum dynamics and explain the arrow of time. However, supporting experimental evidence of reversed quantized oscillators is lacking. We report the direct observation of exploding n = 0 and n = 2 discrete states and Γ0 and Γ2 quantized decay rates of a reversed harmonic oscillator generated by an optical photothermal nonlinearity. Our results give experimental validation to the main prediction of irreversible quantum mechanics, that is, the existence of states with quantized decay rates. Our results also provide a novel perspective to optical shock-waves, potentially useful for applications as lasers, optical amplifiers, white-light and X-ray generation
Generalized uncertainty principle and squeezing in nonlinear nonlocal photon fluids
No full textWe theoretically predict classical squeezing of nonlinear photon fluids. Techniques of time-asymmetric quantum mechanics allow showing that Gaussian states develop squeezing spontaneously in nonlocal nonlinear media. These results open new opportunities for quantum nonlinear optics
Nonlinear Gamow vectors, shock waves, and irreversibility in optically nonlocal media
No full textDispersive shock waves dominate wave-breaking phenomena in Hamiltonian systems. In the absence of loss, these highly irregular and disordered waves are potentially reversible. However, no experimental evidence has been given about the possibility of inverting the dynamics of a dispersive shock wave and turn it into a regular wave-front. Nevertheless, the opposite scenario, i.e., a smooth wave generating turbulent dynamics is well studied and observed in experiments. Here we introduce a new theoretical formulation for the dynamics in a highly nonlocal and defocusing medium described by the nonlinear Schroedinger equation. Our theory unveils a mechanism that enhances the degree of irreversibility. This mechanism explains why a dispersive shock cannot be reversed in evolution even for an arbitrarirly small amount of loss. Our theory is based on the concept of nonlinear Gamow vectors, i.e., power dependent generalizations of the counter-intuitive and hereto elusive exponentially decaying states in Hamiltonian systems. We theoretically show that nonlinear Gamow vectors play a fundamental role in nonlinear Schroedinger models: they may be used as a generalized basis for describing the dynamics of the shock waves, and affect the degree of irreversibility of wave-breaking phenomena. Gamow vectors allow to analytically calculate the amount of breaking of time-reversal with a quantitative agreement with numerical solutions. We also show that a nonlocal nonlinear optical medium may act as a simulator for the experimental investigation of quantum irreversible models, as the reversed harmonic oscillator
Squeezing in a nonlocal photon fluid
No full textQuantum fluids of light are an emerging tool employed in quantum many-body physics. Their amazing properties and versatility allow using them in a wide variety of fields including gravitation, quantum information, and simulation. However the implications of the quantum nature of light in nonlinear optical propagation are still missing many features. We theoretically predict classical spontaneous squeezing of a photon fluid in a nonlocal nonlinear medium. By using the so called Gamow vectors, we show that the quadratures of a coherent state get squeezed and that a maximal squeezing power exists. Our analysis holds true for temporal and spatial optical propagation in a highly nonlocal regime. These results lead to advances in the quantum photon fluids research and may inspire applications in fields like metrology and analogs of quantum gravity
Temperature behavior of optical absorption bands in colored LiF crystals
Full text linkAbstractWe measured the optical absorption spectra of thermally treated, gamma irradiated LiF crystals, as a function of temperature in the range 16–300K. The temperature dependence of intensity, peak position and bandwidth of F and M absorption bands were obtained
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