Dynamics of fluctuations in an optical analogue of the Laval nozzle

Abstract

Using the analogy between the description of coherent light propagation in a medium with Kerr nonlinearity by means of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation and that of a dissipationless liquid, we propose an optical analogue of the Laval nozzle. The optical Laval nozzle will allow one to form a transonic flow, in which one can observe and study very unusual dynamics of classical and quantum fluctuations, including an analogue of the Hawking radiation of real black holes. Theoretical analysis of these dynamics is supported by numerical calculations, and estimates for a possible experimental realization are presented.