Abstract
We have carried out an experimental study of weak localization of photons in a rigid, nonabsorbing, disordered medium. Unlike recent results reported for particles in a fluid, we observe large-amplitude fluctuations in the scattering intensity as a function of angle. Ensemble averaging of these sample-specific fluctuations decreases their intensity and uncovers a sharp peak in the backscattering direction. These results emphasize the common origin of weak localization of electrons, as a wave phenomenon, and of photons which are inherently wavelike.
Keywords
PhysicsPhotonAmplitudeWeak localizationScatteringIntensity (physics)ElectronCoherent backscatteringAnderson localizationComputational physicsCondensed matter physicsOpticsQuantum mechanics
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1986
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 575-578
- Citations
- 223
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
S. Etemad,
Robert J. Thompson,
M. J. Andrejco
(1986).
Weak Localization of Photons: Universal Fluctuations and Ensemble Averaging.
Physical Review Letters
, 57
(5)
, 575-578.
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.57.575
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1103/physrevlett.57.575