Spontaneous quantum emission from analog white holes in a nonlinear optical medium

TL;DR

This paper models quantum vacuum emission from strong laser pulses in nonlinear media, comparing it to analog white hole predictions and clarifying the roles of dispersion and horizons with experimental relevance.

Contribution

It introduces a microscopic quantum optical model for vacuum emission in nonlinear media, highlighting differences from black hole analogs and addressing conceptual issues.

Findings

Spectrum of quantum vacuum emission computed

Clarified role of dispersion and horizons

Compared theoretical predictions with experimental data

Abstract

We use a microscopic quantum optical model to compute the spectrum of quantum vacuum emission from strong laser pulses propagating in nonlinear optical media. Similarities and differences with respect to the emission of analog white holes as predicted by quantum field theory in curved spacetime are highlighted. Conceptual issues related to the role played by the material dispersion and to the presence or absence of the horizon are clarified. Critical comparison with available experimental data is made.