Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
10:56
Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
Published on: May 20, 2014
Transverse confinement of waves in three-dimensional random media
N Cherroret1, S E Skipetrov, B A van Tiggelen
1Laboratoire de Physique et Modélisation des Milieux Condensés, Université Joseph Fourier, CNRS UMR 5493, BP 166, 25 Rue des Martyrs, Maison des Magistères, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 09, France. nicolas.cherroret@physik.uni-freiburg.de
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|January 15, 2011
Summary
We studied light transmission through disordered materials. The transmitted beam
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Wave propagation in disordered systems
Background:
- Anderson localization describes wave function confinement in disordered media.
- Understanding wave transport is crucial for materials science and optics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transmission of a focused light beam through a 3D disordered medium.
- To demonstrate signatures of Anderson localization in the transmitted beam profile.
- To establish a method for measuring localization length.
Main Methods:
- Simulating the transmission of a tightly focused beam.
- Analyzing the transverse profile of the transmitted beam.
- Calculating the mean square width of the transmitted beam.
Main Results:
- The transverse beam profile shows clear signs of Anderson localization.
- The mean square width directly measures the localization length.
- Beam width is unaffected by absorption for short pulses.
Conclusions:
- Anderson localization significantly impacts beam transmission through disordered media.
- The mean square width is a reliable indicator of localization length.
- Absorption does not influence localization effects for transient beams.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Plane Electromagnetic Waves I
The existence of combined electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space as electromagnetic (EM) waves is the most significant prediction of Maxwell's equations. As Maxwell's equations hold in free space, the predicted electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for their propagation. An EM wave comprises an electric field, defined as the force per charge on a stationary charge, and a magnetic field, which is the force per charge on a moving charge.
The EM field is assumed to be a...
The EM field is assumed to be a...
01:07Propagation of Waves
When a wave propagates from one medium to another, part of it may get reflected in the first medium, and part of it may get transmitted to the second medium. In such a case, the interface of the two mediums can be considered as a boundary that is neither fixed nor free.
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
02:18Interference and Diffraction
Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
01:04Travelling Waves
A wave is a disturbance that propagates from its source, repeating itself periodically, and is typically associated with simple harmonic motion. Mechanical waves are governed by Newton's laws and require a medium to travel. A medium is a substance in which a mechanical wave propagates, and the medium produces an elastic restoring force when it is deformed.
Water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves are some examples of mechanical waves. For water waves, the wave propagation medium is water;...
Water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves are some examples of mechanical waves. For water waves, the wave propagation medium is water;...
01:07Interference and Superposition of Waves
When two waves of the same nature occur in the same region simultaneously, they result in interference. Interference of waves implies that the net effect of the waves is the sum of the individual waves' effects. However, it does not imply that the individual waves affect the propagation of other waves.
Interference occurs in mechanical waves, such as sound waves, waves on a string, and surface water waves. Mechanical waves correspond to the physical displacement of particles. Hence,...
Interference occurs in mechanical waves, such as sound waves, waves on a string, and surface water waves. Mechanical waves correspond to the physical displacement of particles. Hence,...
01:16Shock Waves
While deriving the Doppler formula for the observed frequency of a sound wave, it is assumed that the speed of sound in the medium is greater than the source's speed through it. When this condition is breached, a shock wave occurs.
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high pressures...
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high pressures...