Abstract

Recently 3D random dielectric structures with typical length scale matching the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave and optical part of the spectrum have attracted much attention. Propagation of electromagnetic waves in these structures resembles the properties of electrons in disordered semiconductors. Therefore many ideas concerning transport properties of light and microwaves in such media exploit the theoretical methods of solid-state physics that were developed over many decades. The concept of localization introduced by Anderson refers to a dramatic inhibition of the propagation of an electron when it is subject to a spatially random potential. In 3D media a certain critical degree of disorder given by the heuristic loffe-Regel criterion is needed for localization.

© 1996 IEEE