Anderson localization of light and random lasing
Final Report Abstract
The present project has studied the properties of Anderson localization of light, where in particular we have studied the spatial extent of localized states directly using ultrafast imaging of the transport of photons through highly turbid samples. With this it was possible to show that above a critical turbidity the spread of diffuse photons comes to a halt corresponding to the localization of light in these samples. This work has been discussed in several other publications, as it has been the first direct observation of this effect. In addition, we have studied the statistical distribution of such localized states in terms of their intensity. This is another key prediction concerning localization stating that localized states should correspond to particular states giving rise to very high intensities in these states. A macroscopic population of these states in a non-linear medium can thus be observed by the increased observation of wavelength shifts at high turbidity and at long transport times. This is what we have observed in the second part of the project.
Publications
- 'Coherent backscattering and localization of light.' Progress in Optics 52, 1 (2009)
C.M. Aegerter and G. Maret
- ‘2D transmission profile of light through highly scattering media.’ Mesoscopic Physics in Complex Media, 03013 (2010)
T. Sperling, W. Bührer, C.M. Aegerter, and G. Maret
- 'Direct determination of the transition to localization of light in three dimensions.' Nature Photonics 7 48 (2013)
T. Sperling, W. Bührer, C.M. Aegerter, and G. Maret
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/NPHOTON.2012.313)
