Observation of Replica Symmetry Breaking in the 1D Anderson Localization Regime in an Erbium-Doped Random Fiber Laser

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates replica symmetry breaking in a one-dimensional erbium-doped random fiber laser, revealing a transition from a photonic paramagnetic to a spin glass phase in an Anderson localization regime.

Contribution

First demonstration of replica symmetry breaking in a 1D photonic system using an erbium-doped random fiber laser with a unique random grating system.

Findings

Observed transition from paramagnetic to spin glass phase.

Characterized the phase transition via Parisi overlap distribution.

Confirmed Anderson localization regime in the fiber laser system.

Abstract

The analogue of the paramagnetic to spin-glass phase transition in disordered magnetic systems, leading to the phenomenon of replica symmetry breaking, has been recently demonstrated in a two-dimensional random laser consisting of an organic-based amorphous solid-state thin film. We report here the first demonstration of replica symmetry breaking in a one-dimensional photonic system consisting of an erbium-doped random fiber laser operating in the continuous-wave regime based on a unique random fiber grating system, which plays the role of the random scatterers and operates in the Anderson localization regime. The clear transition from a photonic paramagnetic to a photonic spin glass phase, characterized by the probability distribution function of the Parisi overlap, was verified and characterized. In this unique system, the radiation field interacts only with the gain medium, and the fiber grating, which provides the disordered feedback mechanism, does not interfere with the pump.