Resetting photons

Abstract

Starting from a frequency diffusion process for a tagged photon which simulates relaxation to the Planck law, we introduce a resetting where photons lower their frequency at random times. We consider two versions, one where the resetting to low frequency is independent of the existing frequency and a second case where the reduction in frequency scales with the original frequency. The result is a nonlinear Markov process where the stationary distribution modifies the Planck law by abundance of low-frequency occupation. The physical relevance of such photon resetting processes can be found in explorations of nonequilibrium effects, e.g., via random expansions of a confined plasma or photon gas or via strongly inelastic scattering with matter.

Photon Frequency Diffusion Process

“…Let us finish by emphasizing that the proposed mechanisms remain conjectural and that the theory is largely phenomenological. A follow-up can be found in [56], where a resetting mechanism is added to the Kompaneets process corresponding to random abrupt Doppler shifts to the low frequency regime.…”

Preface: stochastic resetting—theory and applications

“…Oliveira et al have investigated how would the black body radiation curve get modified if the photon frequencies are subject to resetting [76]. They found that the effect of frequency resetting on the radiation curve gets manifested by abundance of low-frequency occupation.…”