Mutual information between reflected and transmitted speckle images

We study theoretically the mutual information between reflected and transmitted speckle patterns produced by wave scattering from disordered media. The mutual information between the two speckle images recorded on an array of N detection points (pixels) takes the form of long-range intensity correlation loops, that we evaluate explicitly as a function of the disorder strength and the Thouless number g. Our analysis, supported by extensive numerical simulations, reveals a competing effect of cross-sample and surface spatial correlations. An optimal distance between pixels is proven to exist, that enhances the mutual information by a factor Ng compared to the single-pixel scenario.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, + S

Near-field interactions and non-universality in speckle patterns produced by a point source in a disordered medium

A point source in a disordered scattering medium generates a speckle pattern with non-universal features, giving rise to the so-called C_0 correlation. We analyze theoretically the relationship between the C_0 correlation and the statistical fluctuations of the local density of states, based on simple arguments of energy conservation. This derivation leads to a clear physical interpretation of the C_0 correlation. Using exact numerical simulations, we show that C_0 is essentially a correlation resulting from near-field interactions. These interactions are responsible for the non-universality of C_0, that confers to this correlation a huge potential for sensing and imaging at the subwavelength scale in complex media

Cooperative emission of a pulse train in an optically thick scattering medium

An optically thick cold atomic cloud emits a coherent flash of light in the forward direction when the phase of an incident probe field is abruptly changed. Because of cooperativity, the duration of this phenomena can be much shorter than the excited lifetime of a single atom. Repeating periodically the abrupt phase jump, we generate a train of pulses with short repetition time, high intensity contrast and high efficiency. In this regime, the emission is fully governed by cooperativity even if the cloud is dilute.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Coherent flash of light emitted by a cold atomic cloud

When a resonant laser sent on an optically thick cold atomic cloud is abruptly switched off, a coherent flash of light is emitted in the forward direction. This transient phenomenon is observed due to the highly resonant character of the atomic scatterers. We analyze quantitatively its spatio-temporal properties and show very good agreement with theoretical predictions. Based on complementary experiments, the phase of the coherent field is reconstructed without interferometric tools.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Correlations between reflected and transmitted intensity patterns emerging from opaque disordered media

The propagation of monochromatic light through a scattering medium produces speckle patterns in reflection and transmission, and the apparent randomness of these patterns prevents direct imaging through thick turbid media. Yet, since elastic multiple scattering is fundamentally a linear and deterministic process, information is not lost but distributed among many degrees of freedom that can be resolved and manipulated. Here we demonstrate experimentally that the reflected and transmitted speckle patterns are correlated, even for opaque media with thickness much larger than the transport mean free path, proving that information survives the multiple scattering process and can be recovered. The existence of mutual information between the two sides of a scattering medium opens up new possibilities for the control of transmitted light without any feedback from the target side, but using only information gathered from the reflected speckle.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Cooperative Emission of a Coherent Superflash of Light

We investigate the transient coherent transmission of light through an optically thick cold stron-tium gas. We observe a coherent superflash just after an abrupt probe extinction, with peak intensity more than three times the incident one. We show that this coherent superflash is a direct signature of the cooperative forward emission of the atoms. By engineering fast transient phenomena on the incident field, we give a clear and simple picture of the physical mechanisms at play.Comment: 4 Fig., 5 page

Radiative and non-radiative local density of states on disordered plasmonic films

We present numerical calculations of the Local Density of Optical States (LDOS) in the near field of disordered plasmonic films. The calculations are based on an integral volume method, that takes into account polarization and retardation effects, and allows us to discriminate radiative and non-radiative contributions to the LDOS. At short distance, the LDOS is dominated by non-radiative channels, showing that changes in the spontaneous dynamics of dipole emitters are driven by non-radiative coupling to plasmon modes. Maps of radiative and non-radiative LDOS exhibit strong fluctuations, but with substantially different spatial distributions

Spatial coherence in complex photonic and plasmonic systems

The concept of cross density of states characterizes the intrinsic spatial coherence of complex photonic or plasmonic systems, independently on the illumination conditions. Using this tool and the associated intrinsic coherence length, we demonstrate unambiguously the spatial squeezing of eigenmodes on disordered fractal metallic films, thus clarifying a basic issue in plasmonics