Abstract

The localization of classical waves, like electromagnetic or acoustic ones, has been widely studied for a few years [1]. For one- or two-dimensional systems, the localization of propagating modes is theoretically predicted at any non vanishing disorder. For instance, surface plasmon polaritons (SPP), which are extended modes of flat metallic surfaces, become localized in the presence of random roughness [2,3]. Localization of SPP on rough surfaces has important contributions to surface-enhanced phenomena [2] and gives birth to the phenomenon of enhanced backscattering for shallow surfaces [3]. But it seems that no experimental confirmation exists yet [1]. To my knowledge, no direct numerical evidence of localization has neither been published, since only backscattering peaks, considered as a signature of localization, are exhibited. Thanks to the model achieved in our laboratory [4], it is now possible.

© 1992 Optical Society of America