Anderson Transition for Light in a Three-Dimensional Random Medium

Author

Alexey Yamilov, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Hui Cao
Sergey E. Skipetrov

Abstract

We study Anderson transition for light in three dimensions by performing large-scale simulations of electromagnetic wave transport in disordered ensembles of perfect-electric-conducting spatially overlapping spheres. A mobility edge that separates diffusive transport and Anderson localization is identified, revealing a sharp transition from diffusion to localization for light. Critical behavior in the vicinity of the mobility edge is well described by a single parameter scaling law. The critical exponent is found to be consistent with the value known for the Anderson transition of the orthogonal universality class. Statistical distribution of total transmission at the mobility edge is described without any fit parameter by the diagrammatic perturbation theory originally developed for scalar wave diffusion, but notable deviation from the theory is found when Anderson localization sets in.

Recommended Citation

A. Yamilov et al., "Anderson Transition for Light in a Three-Dimensional Random Medium," Physical Review Letters, vol. 134, no. 4, article no. 046302, American Physical Society, Jan 2025.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.046302

Department(s)

Physics

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1079-7114; 0031-9007

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2025 American Physical Society, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

31 Jan 2025