Observation of Anderson localization of light in three dimensions

Abstract

Using time-resolved transmission measurements, we have found indications of Anderson localization of light in bulk three-dimensional systems. The observed deviation from classical diffusion is in good accord with theoretical predictions of localization and cannot be explained by absorption or experimental artifacts such as stratification, fluorescence, or background illumination. Moreover, we show that in our samples the control parameter is given by the mean free path times the wavenumber as required by the Ioffe-Regel criterion. This is in contrast to quasi-one-dimensional systems that were studied with microwaves. There, the control parameter is related to the number of modes inside a waveguide, and deviations from classical diffusion are possible due to a small number of modes.

Random lasing in nanocrystalline ZnO powders

“…Here k is the wavevector of light and l m its mean free path. Considering that strong localization of light has been observed up to k l m % 4 in time-resolved transmission measurements [21], it is plausible that Anderson localization could be present in the investigated sample. An alternative mechanism for strong spatial localization is based on fluctuations in the refractive index leading by chance to waveguiding structures as predicted in Ref.…”

Retroreflection of light from nanoporous InP: correlation with high absorption

“…Nontrivial phenomena in this field include coherent backscattering [1,2], Anderson localization of light [3][4][5][6], the photonic glass concept [7], propagation of waves in quasiperiodic [8] and fractal [9] structures, anisotropic scattering in aligned nanoporous dielectrics [10], and Letokhov's (random) lasers [11]. But all of the above phenomena necessarily imply nonabsorptive material forming desirable nanostructured media since multiple scattering and interference of scattered light waves are of principal importance.…”

Dynamics of localized waves: Pulsed microwave transmissions in quasi-one-dimensional media

“…32 The analysis of the measured ͗I͑t͒͘ was based on a phenomenological theory incorporating a temporally varying diffusion coefficient D͑t͒. 33 Such a phenomenological theory does not consider the retardation of localization effects in the renormalization of the diffusion coefficient. The influence of retardation on an effective diffusion coefficient can be captured, however, by a renormalization of the diffusion coefficient in frequency, i.e., D͑⍀͒.…”