Probing Long-Range Intensity Correlations inside Disordered Photonic Nanostructures

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the direct observation and manipulation of long-range intensity correlations and fluctuations within disordered photonic nanostructures, advancing understanding of light transport in complex media.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of long-range correlations inside disordered media and shows how to control them via waveguide geometry modifications.

Findings

Long-range intensity correlations grow inside disordered media.

Intensity fluctuations can be manipulated by changing waveguide geometry.

Experimental results agree well with theoretical predictions.

Abstract

We report direct observation of the development of long-range spatial intensity correlations and the growth of intensity fluctuations inside the random media. We fabricated quasi-two-dimensional disordered photonic structures and probed the light transport from a third dimension. Good agreements between experiment and theory are obtained. We were able to manipulate the long-range intensity correlations and intensity fluctuations inside the disordered waveguides by simply varying the waveguide geometry.