Date of Award
Winter 3-22-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Organizational Unit
College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy
First Advisor
Mark E. Siemens
Second Advisor
Xin Fan
Third Advisor
Paul Horn
Fourth Advisor
Davor Balzar
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Bose Einstein condensate, Nonlinear optics, Optical vortex propagation, Superfluid
Abstract
In this dissertation, we review the dynamics of the propagation of a laser through a nonlinear medium, and the dynamics of a self-interacting superfluid phase, and show a mathematical analogy between them. We identify an equivalence that allows direct comparison of the properties and dynamics of the optical fluid with those of the Bose-Einstein condensate. Next, we describe some experimental techniques and methods for data capture and analysis on the way to presenting a novel experimental apparatus that has allowed us to study non-equilibrium nonlinear vortex dynamics in the optical fluid, and that will allow more general future studies of the nonlinear optical fluid, to include few- and many-vortex fluids, and fluids with self-trapping dynamics. This work represents new abilities to study the dynamics of the nonlinear optical fluid, and the interesting topological features, emergent behaviors, and reduced parameter spaces that are found there.
Copyright Date
3-2025
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Patrick C. Ford
Provenance
Received from author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
107 pgs
File Size
14.6 MB
Recommended Citation
Ford, Patrick C., "Vorticies in the Nonlinear Optical Fluid" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2531.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2531