We study, both experimentally and numerically, the Anderson localization
phenomenon in torsional waves of a disordered elastic rod, which consists of a
cylinder with randomly spaced notches. We find that the normal-mode wave
amplitudes are exponentially localized as occurs in disordered solids. The
localization length is measured using these wave amplitudes and it is shown to
decrease as a function of frequency. The normal-mode spectrum is also measured
as well as computed, so its level statistics can be analyzed. Fitting the
nearest-neighbor spacing distribution a level repulsion parameter is defined
that also varies with frequency. The localization length can then be expressed
as a function of the repulsion parameter. There exists a range in which the
localization length is a linear function of the repulsion parameter, which is
consistent with Random Matrix Theory. However, at low values of the repulsion
parameter the linear dependence does not hold.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
