Localization of plane waves in the stochastic telegrapher's equation
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Fabrication and Characterization of Disordered Polymer Optical Fibers for Transverse Anderson Localization of Light
Published on: July 29, 2013
1Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica, Avenida E. Bustillo 9500, CP 8400 Bariloche, Argentina and CONICET, Centro Atómico Bariloche and Instituto Balseiro, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Avenida E. Bustillo 9500, CP 8400 Bariloche, Argentina.
Abstract:
From the exact solution of the stochastic telegrapher's equation, Fourier plane-wave-like modes are introduced. Then the time evolution of the plane-wave modes are analyzed when the absorption of energy in the telegrapher's equation has strong time fluctuations. We demonstrate that fluctuations in the loss of energy introduce a localized gap with a size that depends on the correlation timescale of the fluctuations. We prove that for a large time correlation the gap is strongly reduced, which means that there is delocalization in the plane-wave modes with respect to the plane waves in the ordinary telegrapher's equation. This result is of relevance in the study of the transport of electromagnetic waves in a conducting medium, and sheds light on the functional role of the fluctuations in the loss of energy in the telegrapher's dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
Plane Electromagnetic Waves I
The EM field is assumed...
Traveling Waves: Lossless Lines
Plane Electromagnetic Waves II
Electromagnetic Wave Equation
However, although electric and magnetic fields were first introduced as mathematical constructs to simplify the description of mutual forces between charges, a natural question emerges from Maxwell's equations:...
Equations of Wave Motion
Transmission-Line Differential Equations
Line Section Model
A circuit representing a line section of length Δx helps in understanding the transmission line parameters. The voltage V(x) and current i(x) are measured...

