Optical Kinetic Theory of Nonlinear Multi-mode Photonic Networks

Abstract: Recent experimental developments in multimode nonlinear photonic circuits (MMNPC), have motivated the development of an optical thermodynamic theory that describes the equilibrium properties of an initial beam excitation. However, a non-equilibrium transport theory for these systems, when they are in contact with thermal reservoirs, is still {\it terra incognita}. Here, by combining Landauer and kinematics formalisms we develop a one-parameter scaling theory that describes the transport in one-dimensional MMNPCs from a ballistic to a diffusive regime. We also derive a photonic version of the Wiedemann -Franz law that connects the thermal and power conductivities. Our work paves the way toward a fundamental understanding of the transport properties of MMNPC and may be useful for the design of all-optical cooling protocols.