Abstract

In complete analogy with a system of classical particules colliding inside a gas medium, an incoherent optical field can evolve, owing to nonlinearity, towards a thermodynamic equilibrium state [1]. In this respect, the spatiotemporal dynamics of the light field is governed by the nonlinear Schrodinger equation and its equilibrium spectrum has been determined in the framework of the weak turbulence theory [1,2]. It is expected that experiments made in the field of nonlinear optics can possibly lead to the observation of turbulence or thermalization of nonlinear waves [1,2]. Here we present experimental, theoretical and numerical studies of different optical systems presenting an unusual thermalization process.

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