Microscopic characterization of L\'evy flights of light in atomic vapors

TL;DR

This paper experimentally studies how near-resonant light propagates through atomic vapors, revealing superdiffusive behavior characterized by Levy flights, which are rare but long scattering steps that influence light transport.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental characterization of the step length distribution in Levy flights of light in atomic vapors, confirming superdiffusive behavior.

Findings

The step length distribution follows a power law.

Levy flights dominate the light transport in the vapor.

Superdiffusive behavior is experimentally confirmed.

Abstract

We investigate multiple scattering of near-resonant light in a Doppler-broadened atomic vapor. We experimentally characterize the length distribution of the steps between successive scattering events. The obtained power law is characteristic of a superdiffusive behavior, where rare but very long steps (L\'evy flights) dominate the transport properties.