Enhancement of localization in one-dimensional random potentials with long-range correlations

TL;DR

This study experimentally demonstrates that introducing long-range correlations in one-dimensional random potentials significantly enhances localization, reducing the localization length compared to uncorrelated disorder.

Contribution

The paper provides the first experimental evidence that long-range correlations in scatterer arrangements can enhance localization in 1D waveguides.

Findings

Correlated scatterers decrease localization length.

White-noise scatterers show weaker localization.

Experimental setup with tunable scatterers confirms theoretical predictions.

Abstract

We experimentally study the effect of enhancement of localization in weak one-dimensional random potentials. Our experimental setup is a single mode waveguide with 100 tuneable scatterers periodically inserted into the waveguide. By measuring the amplitudes of transmitted and reflected waves in the spacing between each pair of scatterers, we observe a strong decrease of the localization length when white-noise scatterers are replaced by a correlated arrangement of scatterers.