Nonuniversal intensity correlations in 2D Anderson localizing random medium

TL;DR

This paper investigates nonuniversal intensity correlations in a 2D disordered photonic crystal exhibiting Anderson localization, revealing how embedded quantum emitters probe microscopic medium details and influence far-field correlations.

Contribution

It demonstrates spectroscopic measurement of nonuniversal intensity correlations in Anderson-localized media using embedded quantum emitters, linking near-field properties to far-field correlations.

Findings

Quantum emitters reveal microscopic details of the disordered medium.

Far-field correlations are influenced by near-field properties.

Potential applications in quantum electrodynamics and biophotonics.

Abstract

Complex dielectric media often appear opaque because light traveling through them is scattered multiple times. Although the light scattering is a random process, different paths through the medium can be correlated encoding information about the medium. Here, we present spectroscopic measurements of nonuniversal intensity correlations that emerge when embedding quantum emitters inside a disordered photonic crystal that is found to Anderson-localize light. The emitters probe in-situ the microscopic details of the medium, and imprint such near-field properties onto the far-field correlations. Our findings provide new ways of enhancing light-matter interaction for quantum electrodynamics and energy harvesting, and may find applications in subwavelength diffuse-wave spectroscopy for biophotonics.