Coherent transport of waves in disordered systems with nonlinearity and interactions

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Buchleitner
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2010 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 163842026

We want to investigate the interplay between disorder and nonlinearity or interactions in the propagation of waves through random media. We are especially interested in coherent effects due to wave interference, which, as well known from the case of linear or non-interacting systems, may modify or even completely change the character of wave transport as compared to the incoherent regime, for example turn diffusion into localization. By means of nonlinear diagrammatic scattering theory in connection with numerical simulations, we will analyze the impact of nonlinearities and interactions on those coherent effects, both for propagation of waves in classical nonlinear media and for interacting many-particle quantum systems. In particular, we want to examine whether - contrary to common belief - wave localization can be favored rather than hindered by properly chosen nonlinearities, as suggested by our previous work on nonlinear coherent backscattering.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Privatdozent Dr. Thomas Wellens