Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Part I Light and Fluids
- 1 From Max Planck to Machine Learning
- 2 Elements of Linear Optics
- 3 Green’s Functions
- 4 Rays
- 5 Photon Fluid Transport
- 6 Light Diffusion
- 7 Diffusive Random Lasers
- Part II Photonic Spin Glasses
- Part III Optical Ising Machines
- References
- Subject Index
- Acronym and Abbreviation Index
1 - From Max Planck to Machine Learning
from Part I - Light and Fluids
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 June 2026
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Part I Light and Fluids
- 1 From Max Planck to Machine Learning
- 2 Elements of Linear Optics
- 3 Green’s Functions
- 4 Rays
- 5 Photon Fluid Transport
- 6 Light Diffusion
- 7 Diffusive Random Lasers
- Part II Photonic Spin Glasses
- Part III Optical Ising Machines
- References
- Subject Index
- Acronym and Abbreviation Index
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Summary
We start from the Planck thermodynamic description of light that leads to black-body radiation. We discuss Einstein’s introduction to spontaneous emission and the first evidences leading to the realization of the laser. We detail the nonequilibrium descriptions of lasers as heat engines. We define random lasers and detail their introduction from Letokhov. We show their link with modern optical computing and the Ising and Hopfield models. This chapter illustrates the idea of complexity, the relation with replica symmetry breaking, and the role in optical computing and Ising machines.
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- Complex PhotonicsFundamentals, Spin Glasses, and Optical Computing, pp. 3 - 33Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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