Weak localization of short pulses in disordered waveguides

TL;DR

This paper investigates how short pulses decay in disordered waveguides, revealing deviations from diffusion theory predictions at long times and comparing quantum survival probabilities with advanced theoretical models.

Contribution

It demonstrates the breakdown of diffusion theory for long times and compares quantum survival probabilities with super-symmetric nonlinear sigma model results.

Findings

Long-time decay of transmission is non-exponential.

Diffusion theory fails beyond the Heisenberg time.

Quantum survival probability aligns with sigma model calculations.

Abstract

We consider the phenomenon of weak localization of a short wave pulse in a quasi-1D disordered waveguide. We show that the long-time decay of the average transmission coefficient is not purely exponential, in contradiction with predictions of the diffusion theory. The diffusion theory breaks down completely for times exceeding the Heisenberg time. We also study the survival probability of a quantum particle in a disordered waveguide and compare our results with previous calculations using the super-symmetric nonlinear sigma model.