Probing Nonlinear Turbulent Dynamics with a Fully-Controllable Platform for Paraxial Fluids of Light

Paraxial fluids of light offer a unique platform for investigating nonlinear dynamics resulting from the interplay of wave and particle-like dynamics experienced by a laser beam as it propagates inside a nonlinear optical media. Besides, the mathematical similarity between these systems and two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates enables their use as analog quantum simulators, facilitating the study of a wide range of nonlinear phenomena, from quantum turbulence[1] to topological states of matter[2]. Nonetheless, traditional experimental configurations[1] are limited by the finite size of the nonlinear medium, which strongly constrains the effective propagation duration and limits observations to the final output state.