Observation of Intensity Statistics of Light Transmitted Through 3D Random Media

TL;DR

This study experimentally investigates the spatial intensity statistics of light transmitted through 3D isotropic scattering media, revealing deviations from Rayleigh statistics and highlighting limitations of quasi-1D theories in describing such media.

Contribution

The paper provides the first experimental measurement of intensity statistics in 3D scattering media and compares results with mesoscopic transport theory, showing discrepancies with quasi-1D predictions.

Findings

Intensity distributions deviate from Rayleigh statistics

Total transmission fluctuations are smaller than quasi-1D predictions

Mesoscopic transport theory accurately describes observed statistics

Abstract

We experimentally observe the spatial intensity statistics of light transmitted through three-dimensional isotropic scattering media. The intensity distributions measured through layers consisting of zinc oxide nanoparticles differ significantly from the usual Rayleigh statistics associated with speckle, and instead are in agreement with the predictions of mesoscopic transport theory, taking into account the known material parameters of the samples. Consistent with the measured spatial intensity fluctuations, the total transmission fluctuates. The magnitude of the fluctuations in the total transmission is smaller than expected on the basis of quasi-one-dimensional (1D) transport theory, which indicates that quasi-1D theories cannot fully describe these open three-dimensional media.