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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
10:35
Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
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Interplay between evanescence and disorder in deep subwavelength photonic structures
Hanan Herzig Sheinfux1, Ido Kaminer1,2, Azriel Z Genack3
1Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
Nature Communications
|October 7, 2016
Summary
Disordered optical systems with deep subwavelength features exhibit unexpected Anderson localization. Evanescent waves cause localization length to scale with wavelength, enhancing transmission.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Wave Phenomena
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Optics
Background:
- Conventional understanding suggests subwavelength features minimally impact wave transport.
- Anderson localization typically describes wave confinement in disordered systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of disorder on wave transport in one-dimensional systems with deep subwavelength features.
- To explore a unique regime of Anderson localization influenced by evanescent waves.
- To quantify the impact of localization on wave transmission.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a one-dimensional disordered optical system with spatial features significantly smaller than the wavelength.
- Analyzing the role of evanescent waves in the Anderson localization process.
- Measuring wave transmission and localization length.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that disorder dramatically affects wave transport despite deep subwavelength features.
- Observed Anderson localization where localization length scales linearly with wavelength due to evanescent waves.
- Reported an unusual order of magnitude enhancement in transmission induced by localization.
Conclusions:
- Challenges the common understanding of subwavelength features' impact on wave transport.
- Highlights the significant role of evanescent waves in Anderson localization.
- Suggests potential applications in manipulating wave transport in optical and electronic systems.
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