Light propagation in a random three-dimensional ensemble of point scatterers in a waveguide: size-dependent switching between diffuse radiation transfer and Anderson localization of light

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the size of a waveguide influences light transport in a disordered atomic ensemble, revealing a transition from Anderson localization to diffuse transfer as the waveguide cross section increases.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum microscopic model demonstrating size-dependent switching between localization and diffusion in waveguide light transport.

Findings

Transition from Anderson localization to diffuse transfer with increasing waveguide size

Transmittance exhibits complex step-like dependence on waveguide cross section

Light transport behavior is highly sensitive to waveguide dimensions

Abstract

Light transport in a disordered ensemble of resonant atoms placed in a waveguide is found to be very sensitive to the sizes of cross section of a waveguide. Based on self-consistent quantum microscopic model treating atoms as coherent radiating dipoles, we have shown that the nature of radiation transfer changes from Anderson localization regime in a single-mode waveguide to a traditional diffuse transfer in a multi-mode one. Moreover, the transmittance magnitude undergoes complex step-like dependence on the transverse sizes of a waveguide.