Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan

Temporal and Spectral Correlations in Fluctuations of Light Transmitted through Static Disordered Media

Makoto Tomita, Kenshi Shimano

Published Nov 1, 1998• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate the fluctuations of light transmitted through static disordered media in time and frequency domains. When the pulse duration of the incident light is much shorter than the typical time of flight through the medium, fluctuations appear both in time and frequency domains and the uncertainty relation, δτδω∼1 or \(\delta \tau \delta E \sim \hbar\), holds good in these fluctuations. We discuss the necessary condition to observe this relation. Precise calculations of the correlation functions also reveal that the exact shape and width of the correlation functions depend on the pulse duration and the observation time. Experimental results with picosecond pulses through thick and thin samples show good agreement with the theoretical calculations.

DOI
10.1143/jpsj.67.3761

Related papers

Uncertainty relation in fluctuations in the space and time domains in disordered optical media

Makoto Tomita, Kenshi Shimano, Kazunari Nakata

We confirmed that the uncertainty relation between time and energy is established in fluctuations in the space and time domains that appear when coherent optical pulses propagate through a disordered static medium. The widths of temporal and spectral correlation functions of these fluctuations satisfy the relation $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\sim}1$, that is, $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\delta}E\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{\hbar}$. The number of fluctuations is discussed on the basis of the uncertainty relation.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Aug 1, 1996•6 citations

Observation of long-range intensity correlation in the transport of coherent light through a random medium

Meint P. van Albada, Johannes F. de Boer, Ad Lagendijk

We have measured the correlation in frequency-dependent intensity fluctuations in the total transmission through random dielectric samples, using visible light in a (essentially) plane-wave geometry. The correlation function, of which the width at half maximum is proportional to ${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$ (L is the thickness of the sample), decays as (\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\omega}${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1/2}$. This constitutes the experimental proof for the buildup of long-range intensity correlations in the propagation of classical waves by multiple scattering.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 4, 1990•160 citations

Quantum theory of dynamic multiple light scattering in fluctuating disordered media

S. E. Skipetrov

We formulate a quantum theory of dynamic multiple light scattering in fluctuating disordered media and calculate the fluctuation and the autocorrelation function of the photon number operator for light transmitted through a disordered slab. The effect of disorder on the information capacity of a quantum communication channel operating in a disordered environment is estimated, and the use of squeezed light in diffusing-wave spectroscopy is discussed.

arXiv:cond-mat/0609413•Physical Review A•May 8, 2007•24 citations

Temporal dynamics of Levy flights of photons in a three-dimensional geometry for hot vapor

Ricardo V. M. de Almeida Filho, J. C. de Aquino Carvalho, Thierry Passerat de Silans +2 more

Multiple scattering of light by resonant vapor is characterized by Lévy-type superdiffusion with a step size distribution $P(x) \propto 1/x^{1+α}$, with $0 < α< 2$. The Lévy parameter $α$ was measured from $P(x)$, steady fluorescence, frequency-dependent fluorescence and time-resolved transmission, where the latter was observed for quenched disordered media, not yet for annealed disordered media. Here we report first measurements of this quantity from time-resolved fluorescence for photons that are forward diffused from light pulses exciting a hot rubidium vapor, a medium characterized by annealed disorder, where correlations between the photon steps are absent. Also, the vapor is contained in a three-dimensional geometry, a turned cylinder with respect of the incident photon direction. We show experimentally that $α$ can be extracted from this setup, and the results are consistent with those given by the steady frequency-dependent forward fluorescence. Theoretical simulations are consistent with these results. Also, our simulations show the validity of the one-dimensional theories for our actual geometry and other three-dimensional ones, as thin and thick disks, and a measurement of the number of steps that the photon performed before leaving the medium.

arXiv:2603.18967•Mar 19, 2026•0 citations

Light Propagation in Temporally Disordered Media

Yonatan Sharabi, Eran Lustig, Moti Segev

We study light propagation in a medium with a homogeneous refractive index that varies randomly in time. We find that, in stark contrast to spatial disorder, temporal disorder causes exponential increase of the light intensity. © 2019 The Author(s)

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•May 1, 2019•1 citation

Degenerate four-wave mixing in picosecond pulses: study of the temporal shape of the diffracted signal as a function of the material response time

Herve Coic, M.L. Roblin, François Gires +1 more

We present a time-resolved study of the diffracted pulse in degenerate four-wave mixing experiments with short-response-time materials. The first step is the validation of a theoretical model that takes into account the temporal characteristics of the energy level (relaxation time T1 and dephasing time T2) and of the incident pulse (duration and spectral phase) in a simple particular case. Two methods are used for characterizing the diffracted beam: the amplitude correlation with the reference pulse and the spectrum intensity measurements. We discuss the experimental results, which show good agreement with the theoretical model and evidence the strong influence of the incident pulse characteristics.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Nov 1, 1994•1 citation
We investigate the fluctuations of light transmitted through static disordered media in time and frequency domains. When the pulse duration of the incident light is much shorter than the typical time of flight through the medium, fluctuations appear both in time and frequency domains and the uncertainty relation, δτδω∼1 or (\delta \tau \delta E \sim \hbar), holds good in these fluctuations. We discuss the necessary condition to observe this relation. Precise calculations of the correlation functions also reveal that the exact shape and width of the correlation functions depend on the pulse duration and the observation time. Experimental results with picosecond pulses through thick and thin samples show good agreement with the theoretical calculations.
We confirmed that the uncertainty relation between time and energy is established in fluctuations in the space and time domains that appear when coherent optical pulses propagate through a disordered static medium. The widths of temporal and spectral correlation functions of these fluctuations satisfy the relation $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\sim}1$, that is, $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\delta}E\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{\hbar}$. The number of fluctuations is discussed on the basis of the uncertainty relation.
We have measured the correlation in frequency-dependent intensity fluctuations in the total transmission through random dielectric samples, using visible light in a (essentially) plane-wave geometry. The correlation function, of which the width at half maximum is proportional to ${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$ (L is the thickness of the sample), decays as (\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\omega}${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1/2}$. This constitutes the experimental proof for the buildup of long-range intensity correlations in the propagation of classical waves by multiple scattering.
Multiple scattering of light by resonant vapor is characterized by Lévy-type superdiffusion with a step size distribution P(x)∝1/x1+αP(x) \propto 1/x^{1+α}P(x)∝1/x1+α, with 0<α<20 < α< 20<α<2. The Lévy parameter ααα was measured from P(x)P(x)P(x), steady fluorescence, frequency-dependent fluorescence and time-resolved transmission, where the latter was observed for quenched disordered media, not yet for annealed disordered media. Here we report first measurements of this quantity from time-resolved fluorescence for photons that are forward diffused from light pulses exciting a hot rubidium vapor, a medium characterized by annealed disorder, where correlations between the photon steps are absent. Also, the vapor is contained in a three-dimensional geometry, a turned cylinder with respect of the incident photon direction. We show experimentally that ααα can be extracted from this setup, and the results are consistent with those given by the steady frequency-dependent forward fluorescence. Theoretical simulations are consistent with these results. Also, our simulations show the validity of the one-dimensional theories for our actual geometry and other three-dimensional ones, as thin and thick disks, and a measurement of the number of steps that the photon performed before leaving the medium.
We present a time-resolved study of the diffracted pulse in degenerate four-wave mixing experiments with short-response-time materials. The first step is the validation of a theoretical model that takes into account the temporal characteristics of the energy level (relaxation time T1 and dephasing time T2) and of the incident pulse (duration and spectral phase) in a simple particular case. Two methods are used for characterizing the diffracted beam: the amplitude correlation with the reference pulse and the spectrum intensity measurements. We discuss the experimental results, which show good agreement with the theoretical model and evidence the strong influence of the incident pulse characteristics.