Spatial and temporal localization of light in two dimensions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how light behaves in two-dimensional systems, revealing that scalar waves can localize strongly while vectorial waves do not, due to polarization coupling and near-field effects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of light localization in 2D, highlighting the conditions under which Anderson localization occurs or is suppressed.

Findings

Scalar waves exhibit Anderson localization with long lifetimes.

Vectorial waves do not show localization due to polarization coupling.

Localization length depends on mode position, not lifetime.

Abstract

Quasi-resonant scattering of light in two dimensions can be described either as a scalar or as a vectorial electromagnetic wave. Performing a scaling analysis we observe in both cases long lived modes, yet only the scalar case exhibits Anderson localized modes together with extremely long mode lifetimes. We show that the localization length of these modes is influenced only by their position, and not their lifetime. Investigating the reasons for the absence of localization, it appears that both the coupling of several polarizations and the presence of near-field terms are able to prevent long lifetimes and Anderson localization.