Frequency down conversion through Bose condensation of light

Abstract

We propose an experimental set up allowing to convert an input light of wavelengths about $1-2 \mu m$ into an output light of a lower frequency. The basic principle of operating relies on the nonlinear optical properties exhibited by a microcavity filled with glass. The light inside this material behaves like a 2D interacting Bose gas susceptible to thermalise and create a quasi-condensate. Extension of this setup to a photonic bandgap material (fiber grating) allows the light to behave like a 3D Bose gas leading, after thermalisation, to the formation of a Bose condensate. Theoretical estimations show that a conversion of $1 \mu m$ into $1.5 \mu m$ is achieved with an input pulse of about $1 ns$ with a peak power of $10^3 W$, using a fiber grating containing an integrated cavity of size about $500 \mu m \times 100 \mu m^2$.