Three-Dimensional Anderson Localization of Ultracold Matter

TL;DR

This study demonstrates three-dimensional Anderson localization of ultracold fermionic atoms in a disordered potential, revealing a mobility edge and localization length behavior, providing experimental benchmarks for theoretical models.

Contribution

First experimental observation of 3D Anderson localization in ultracold matter with detailed measurements of mobility edge and localization length.

Findings

Mobility edge increases with disorder strength.

Localization length decreases with disorder and increases with particle energy.

Distinct localized and mobile atomic components observed.

Abstract

Anderson localization (AL) is a ubiquitous interference phenomenon in which waves fail to propagate in a disordered medium. We observe three-dimensional AL of noninteracting ultracold matter by allowing a spin-polarized atomic Fermi gas to expand into a disordered potential. A two-component density distribution emerges consisting of an expanding mobile component and a nondiffusing localized component. We extract a mobility edge that increases with the disorder strength, whereas the thermally averaged localization length is shown to decrease with disorder strength and increase with particle energy. These measurements provide a benchmark for more sophisticated theories of AL.