Classification of light sources and their interaction with active and passive environments

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new classification of light sources based on their emission properties and demonstrates its importance through experiments with random lasers, impacting the understanding of light-matter interactions in complex media.

Contribution

It presents a novel classification scheme for light sources as Constant Amplitude or Constant Power, with experimental validation and implications for photonic research.

Findings

Classification affects interpretation of emission behavior

Experimental identification of source type in gain media

Revisions needed for source studies in scattering environments

Abstract

The emission properties of a molecular light source depend on its optical and chemical environment. This dependence, however, is different for various light sources. We present a general classification of sources by introducing the concepts of Constant Amplitude and Constant Power Sources. The unforeseen consequences of this classification are illustrated for photonic studies by random laser experiments. Comparison of the experimental results with properly customized rate equations identifies the type of light source in the gain medium and an estimate for its quantum efficiency. Our results require a major revision of source studies in multiple scattering media.