Fractal laser sources: new analyses, results and contexts

Christian, JM, McDonald, GS, Heyes, AS and Huang, JG 2010, Fractal laser sources: new analyses, results and contexts , in: National Photonics Conference, Photon 10, 23-26 Aug, 2010, Southampton, UK.

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Abstract

A series of significant new extensions concerning fractal light generation are reported. Firstly, we summarise techniques and results from the first full analysis of the linear modes of ‘fractal lasers’ [1] – unstable-cavity geometries with arbitrary Fresnel number Neq and arbitrary round-trip magnification M. Secondly, simulations and analyses for new contexts of laser-driven ‘nonlinear fractal generators’ [2] – where analogous nonlinear processes spontaneously generate fractals – are presented. Finally, we outline why such fractal laser sources may play a pivotal role in future Nature-inspired devices and system architectures. Our discovery of fractal laser modes from unstable-cavity lasers [1] uncovered a general class of linear systems (with repeated magnification) that possess fractal eigenmodes. However, numerical or analytical analyses was limited to modes of either: very limited fractality, laser cavities with Neq ≈ O(1); or unlimited fractality, when Neq >> O(1). General properties of fractal modes from these two extremes are, perhaps unsurprisingly, different. Building on Fresnel diffraction theory developments [3], we report fractal mode characteristics in the important intermediate regime – corresponding to real-world systems with significant and exploitable fractality (see Figure 1). <FIGURE 1> Figure 1. Lowest-loss eigenmode patterns for ‘kaleidoscope fractals lasers’ with Neq = 30 and M = 1.5. We further proposed fractal light generation through entirely-nonlinear mechanisms [2]. The context examined was a single configuration with a particular nonlinearity. Generalisation of this work to new contexts - with profoundly different nonlinearities and experimental configurations, such as ring cavities and cavity-less contexts – will be summarised. The huge spatial bandwidths associated with fractal sources have potential exploitation within novel technological contexts. We conclude with a brief account of such potential new technologies. References [1] Karman G P, McDonald G S, New G H C and Woerdman JP, Nature 402, 138 (1999). [2] Huang J G and McDonald G S, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 174101 (2005). [3] Huang J G, Christian J M and McDonald G S, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 23, 2768 (2006).

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Themes:	Energy Media, Digital Technology and the Creative Economy Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of Computing, Science and Engineering > Salford Innovation Research Centre (SIRC)
Journal or Publication Title:	Technical Digest: National Photonics Conference, Photon 10, Southampton, 2010
Publisher:	Institute of Physics (IoP)
Refereed:	Yes
Depositing User:	GS McDonald
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2011 08:25
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2017 01:52
URI:	http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/18269

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