Theory of random lasing and light localization in strongly disordered media
Final Report Abstract
Selfconsistent diagrammatic theories for the Anderson localization of light and for random lasing in homogenously disordered, laser-active media have been developed. The polarization of light has been incorporated in the theory of Anderson localization for the first time. We have shown that the problem of light in a disordered photonic crystal including polarization can be mapped onto a pseudospin model with spin-orbit scattering, which is well-known to exhibit anti-localization in the pseudospin singlet channel of the intensity propagator. In this way, the long-standing difficulty of realizing Anderson localization of light can be understood systematically as a consequence of this anti-localizing effect. For the description of homogenously disordered random lasers, a selfconsistent theory was developed by which the transport theory for diffusion and interference of light intensity modes and the semiclassical laser rate equations are mutually coupled. Our studies provide strong evidence that in these systems the finite lasing spot size, which is at the heart of the coherent feedback and which has been observed experimentally, is neither caused by preformed random cavities nor by Anderson localization of light. Instead, the theory predicts a new mechanism for the existence of finite-size lasing spots, implied by the causality of the dynamics in the lasing state and a balance of light amplification in the medium and loss at the surface of the system. The theory further predicts a characteristic dependence of the average lasing spot size on the pump rate which can be tested experimentally.
Publications
- "Anderson Localization of Classical Waves in Disordered Photonic Crystals with Linear Absorption or Gain", International Conference on Photonic and Electromagnetic Crystal Structures, PECS VI, Organizer: C. M. Soukoulis, Aghia Pelaghia, Crete, Greece, 19-24 June 2005
Johann Kroha
- "Theory of Light Diffusion in Disordered Media with Linear Absorption or Gain", Phys. Rev. B 71, 184201 (2005)
A. Lubatsch, J. Kroha and K. Busch
- "Transport Theory of Light in Strongly Disordered Media with Absorption or Coherent Emission", Dissertation, Universität Bonn, January 2005
Andreas Lubatsch
- "Effects of Strong Localization of Light in Disordered Media with Loss or Gain", Spring Meeting of the German Physical Society (DPG), Section Atoms, Molecules, Quantum Optics and Plasmas (AMOP), Frankfurt, 17 March 2006
Johann Kroha
- "Low-loss Resonant Modes in Deterministically Aperiodic Nanopillar Waveguides", J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 23 (10), 2265 (2006)
Sergei V. Zhukovsky, Dmitry N. Chigrin and Johann Kroha
- "Random Lasing: Interplay of Stimulated Emission, Diffusion and Localization in Disordered, Active Media", Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Seminar Strong Coupling of Light and Matter, Organizers: D. Meschede and M. Sokolowski, Bad Honnef, 13-16 September 2006
Johann Kroha
- "Theory of Strong Localization Effects of Light in Disordered Loss or Gain Media", Phys. Rev. B 73, 245107 (2006)
Regine Frank, Andreas Lubatsch and Johann Kroha
- "Coupled Nanopillar Waveguides: Optical Properties and Applications", Phys. Stat. Sol. A 204 (11), 3647 (2007)
Dmitry N. Chigrin, Sergei V. Zhukovsky, Andrei V. Lavrinenko and Johann Kroha
- "Selective Lasing in Multimode Periodic and Non-periodic Nanopillar Waveguides", Physica Status Solidi B, 244 (4) 1211 (2007)
Sergei V. Zhukovsky, Dmitry N. Chigrin, Andrei V. Lavrinenko and Johann Kroha
- "Switchable Lasing in Multimode Microcavities", Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 073902 (2007)
Sergei V. Zhukovsky, Dmitry N. Chigrin, Andrei V. Lavrinenko and Johann Kroha
- "Transport Theory of Random Lasers", theoretical seminar, Universität Karlsruhe, 18 January 2007
J. Kroha
- Transport Theory of Random Lasers: Strong Localization Effects and Correlation Length", Physical Colloquium of the Max Planck Institut für Physik Komplexer Systeme, Dresden, 19 March 2007
Johann Kroha
- "Anderson Localization and Correlation Length in Random Lasers", International Workshop on Theoretical and Computational Nanophotonics, TaCoNa Photonics I, Bad Honnef, 03-05 December 2008
Regine Frank
- "Bistability and Mode Interaction in Microlasers ", Phys. Rev. A 79, 033803 (2009)
S. V. Zhukovsky, D. N. Chigrin and J. Kroha
- "Diffusion of Light in Anisotropie Disordered Media", poster contribution. International Workshop on Theoretical and Computational Nanophotonics, TaCoNa Photonics II, Bad Honnef, 28-30 October 2009. AIP Conf. Proc. (7 October 2009) 1176, 124-125
Andreas Lubatsch, and Regine Frank
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3253883) - "Light Localization and Localization in Diffusive Random Lasing", selected oral contribution, Workshop and International Conference on Transport in Interacting, Disordered Systems, TIDS13, Organizers: I. Varga and P. Thomas, Rackeve, Hungary, 31 August - 05 September 2009
Andreas Lubatsch
- "Light Transport and Correlation Length in a Random Laser", Annalen der Physik. 18, 882 (2009)
R. Frank, A. Lubatsch and J. Kroha
- "Light Transport and Localization in Diffusive Random Lasers", J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 11, 114012 (2009)
A. Lubatsch, R. Frank and J. Kroha
- "Selfconsistent Theory of Random Lasing", Dissertation, Universität Bonn, December 2009
Regine Frank
- "Theoretical Approach to Random Lasing in Thin Systems on Reflecting Substrates", poster contribution. International Workshop on Theoretical and Computational Nanophotonics, TaCoNa Photonics II, Bad Honnef, 28-30 October 2009. AIP Conf. Proc. (7 October 2009) 1176, 110-111 DOI:10.1063/1.3253878
Regine Frank, Andreas Lubatsch and Johann Kroha
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3253878) - "Transport Theory and Correlation Volume of Diffusive Random Lasers", poster contribution, International Conference on Anderson Localization in Nonlinear and Many-Body Systems, Organizerss: B. Altshuler, S. Flach and A. Pikovsky, Max-Planck-Institut für Physik Komplexer Systeme, Dresden, 16-20 March 2009
Regine Frank, Andreas Lubatsch and Johann Kroha
- "Selfconsistent Transport Theory of Diffusive Random Lasers", International Conference on Physics of Quantum Electroncs, PQE 2010, Snowbird, Utah, USA, 3-7 January 2010
Johann Kroha
