1 research outputs found
Statistical Signatures of Photon Localization
The realization that electron localization in disordered systems (Anderson
localization) is ultimately a wave phenomenon has led to the suggestion that
photons could be similarly localized by disorder. This conjecture attracted
wide interest because the differences between photons and electrons - in their
interactions, spin statistics, and methods of injection and detection - may
open a new realm of optical and microwave phenomena, and allow a detailed study
of the Anderson localization transition undisturbed by the Coulomb interaction.
To date, claims of three-dimensional photon localization have been based on
observations of the exponential decay of the electromagnetic wave as it
propagates through the disordered medium. But these reports have come under
close scrutiny because of the possibility that the decay observed may be due to
residual absorption, and because absorption itself may suppress localization.
Here we show that the extent of photon localization can be determined by a
different approach - measurement of the relative size of fluctuations of
certain transmission quantities. The variance of relative fluctuations
accurately reflects the extent of localization, even in the presence of
absorption. Using this approach, we demonstrate photon localization in both
weakly and strongly scattering quasi-one-dimensional dielectric samples and in
periodic metallic wire meshes containing metallic scatterers, while ruling it
out in three-dimensional mixtures of aluminum spheres.Comment: 5 pages, including 4 figure