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Fabrication and Characterization of Disordered Polymer Optical Fibers for Transverse Anderson Localization of Light
Published on: July 29, 2013
Fano interference governs wave transport in disordered systems
Alexander N Poddubny1, Mikhail V Rybin, Mikhail F Limonov
1National Research University for Information Technology, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO), St. Petersburg 197101, Russia. poddubny@coherent.ioffe.ru
Nature Communications
|June 28, 2012
Summary
Disorder in materials can surprisingly enhance light transmission by creating Fano resonances, linking previously opposite phenomena of light localization and Bragg scattering. This finding offers new insights into light, phonon, and electron transport.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Wave Phenomena in Disordered Systems
- Photonics and Optics
Background:
- Light localization in disordered systems and Bragg scattering in periodic structures are typically viewed as opposing phenomena.
- Disorder usually degrades coherent Bragg scattering, while periodicity suppresses Anderson localization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reveal a non-trivial link between light localization and Bragg scattering phenomena.
- To investigate the role of Fano interference in disorder-induced scattering and its effect on wave transport.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of Fano interference between Bragg scattering and disorder-induced scattering.
- Investigation of wave transmission through disordered systems exhibiting Bragg scattering properties.
Main Results:
- Discovery of disorder-induced Fano resonances linking localization and de-localization in random systems.
- Observation of unexpected transmission enhancement and spectrum inversion due to disorder transforming Bragg stop-bands into pass-bands.
- Fano resonance identified as a fingerprint feature for disordered structures due to ergodicity.
Conclusions:
- Fano interference provides a unified framework for understanding seemingly opposite wave phenomena in ordered and disordered systems.
- Disorder-induced Fano resonances offer novel insights into the transport of photons, phonons, and electrons.
- The findings challenge traditional views and open new avenues for controlling wave transport in complex media.
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