Optical Kinetic Theory of Nonlinear Multimode Photonic Networks

Recent experimental developments in multimode nonlinear photonic circuits (MMNPCs), have motivated the development of an optical thermodynamic theory that describes the equilibrium properties of an initial beam excitation. However, a nonequilibrium transport theory for these systems, when they are in contact with thermal reservoirs, is still terra incognita. Here, by combining Landauer and kinematics formalisms we develop a universal one-parameter scaling theory that describes the whole transport behavior from the ballistic to the diffusive regime, including both positive and negative optical temperature scenarios. We also derive a photonic version of the Wiedemann-Franz law that connects the thermal and power conductivities. Our work paves the way toward a fundamental understanding of the transport properties of MMNPCs and may be useful for the design of all-optical cooling protocols.Received 23 October 2023Accepted 4 April 2024DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.193802© 2024 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)