Replica Symmetry Breaking in the Photonic Ferromagneticlike Spontaneous Mode-Locking Phase of a Multimode Nd:YAG Laser

André L. Moura, Pablo I. R. Pincheira, Albert S. Reyna, Ernesto P. Raposo, Anderson S. L. Gomes, and Cid B. de Araújo
Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 163902 – Published 20 October 2017
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Abstract

We demonstrate the replica symmetry breaking (RSB) phenomenon in the spontaneous mode-locking regime of a multimode Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The underlying mechanism is quite distinct from that of the RSB recently observed in random lasers. Here, there is no random medium and the phase is not glassy with incoherently oscillating modes as in random lasers. Instead, in each pulse a specific subset of longitudinal modes are activated in a nondeterministic way, whose coherent oscillation dominates and frustrates the others. The emergence of RSB coincides with the onset of ultrashort pulse generation typical of the spontaneous mode-locking regime, both occurring at the laser threshold. On the other hand, when high losses are introduced, RSB is inhibited and only the amplified stimulated emission with replica symmetry is observed. Our results disclose the only theoretically predicted photonic phase with RSB that remained unobserved so far.

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  • Received 20 November 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.163902

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

André L. Moura1,2, Pablo I. R. Pincheira1, Albert S. Reyna1, Ernesto P. Raposo3,*, Anderson S. L. Gomes1, and Cid B. de Araújo1

  • 1Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
  • 2Grupo de Física da Matéria Condensada, Núcleo de Ciências Exatas—NCEx, Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, 57309-005 Arapiraca, Alagoas, Brazil
  • 3Laboratório de Física Teórica e Computacional, Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

  • *ernesto@df.ufpe.br

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Issue

Vol. 119, Iss. 16 — 20 October 2017

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