Suppression of Anderson localization of light and Brewster anomalies in disordered superlattices containing a dispersive metamaterial

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that Anderson localization of light in disordered layered structures with dispersive metamaterials can be suppressed at specific frequencies and angles, enabling control over light propagation.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical and numerical analysis showing suppression of Anderson localization in 1D disordered superlattices with dispersive metamaterials, highlighting conditions for Brewster anomalies.

Findings

Suppression of Anderson localization at long wavelengths and specific angles.

Identification of Brewster anomalies in positive- and negative-refraction regimes.

Potential for tuning light transport in disordered metamaterials.

Abstract

Light propagation through 1D disordered structures composed of alternating layers, with random thicknesses, of air and a dispersive metamaterial is theoretically investigated. Both normal and oblique incidences are considered. By means of numerical simulations and an analytical theory, we have established that Anderson localization of light may be suppressed: (i) in the long wavelength limit, for a finite angle of incidence which depends on the parameters of the dispersive metamaterial; (ii) for isolated frequencies and for specific angles of incidence, corresponding to Brewster anomalies in both positive- and negative-refraction regimes of the dispersive metamaterial. These results suggest that Anderson localization of light could be explored to control and tune light propagation in disordered metamaterials.