# Localization versus subradiance in three-dimensional scattering of light

## TL;DR

This paper investigates the nature of light scattering modes in three-dimensional disordered media, revealing that extended subradiant modes dominate despite the presence of localized modes, with lifetimes influenced by finite-size effects.

## Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the coexistence of localized and extended modes in 3D scattering, highlighting the dominance of subradiant modes and the impact of finite-size effects on their lifetimes.

## Key findings

- Localized modes are a minority above the localization threshold.
- Subradiant extended modes predominate in the scattering spectrum.
- Finite-size effects significantly influence mode lifetimes.

## Abstract

We study the scattering modes of light in a three-dimensional disordered medium, in the scalar approximation and above the critical density for Anderson localization. Localized modes represent a minority of the total number of modes, even well above the threshold density, whereas spatially extended subradiant modes predominate. For specific energy ranges however, almost all modes are localized, yet adjusting accordingly the probe frequency does not allow to address these only in the regime accessible numerically. Finally, their lifetime is observed to be dominated by finite-size effects, and more specifically by the ratio of the localization length to their distance to the system boundaries.