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

Physical Review A

Nonlinear effects in Anderson localization of light by two-level atoms

Noel Araujo Moreira, Robin Kaiser, Romain Bachelard

Published Mar 14, 2024• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The authors investigate the localization of light in disordered cold atom clouds in the simultaneous presence of many photons. Frequency filtering appears as an efficient tool to focus on the single-photon physics, leaving the many-body one to the unfiltered fluorescence spectrum.
DOI
10.1103/physreva.109.l031501

Related papers

Nonlinear effects in Anderson localization of light by two-level atoms

Noel Araujo Moreira, Robin Kaiser, Romain Bachelard

While Anderson is a single-particle wave effect, guaranteeing a single excitation in the system can be challenging. We here tackle this limitation in the context of light localization in three dimensions in disordered cold atom clouds, in presence of several photons. We show that the presence of these multiple excitations does not affect substantially the abnormal intensity fluctuations which characterize the Anderson localization transition, provided that the radiated light is frequency filtered. Due to their narrow linewidth, long-lived modes, and particularly the localized ones, are strongly saturated even for a weak resonant pump, leading to a large increase of the inelastic scattering and to reduced fluctuations in the total radiation. Yet the atomic coherences and the resulting elastic scattering remain a proper witness of the Anderson localization transition. Hence, frequency filtering allows one to investigate the single-excitation sector, dismissing the many-body effects showing up in the fluorescence spectrum.

arXiv:2311.01632•Nov 2, 2023•0 citations

Anderson localization in a disorder-free atomic mixture

S. E. Skipetrov

Anderson localization – the halt of quantum transport in a strongly disordered potential – has been observed for quantum gases in optical potentials. An important stage of experiments is the creation and characterization of the optical (speckle) potential that typically features nontrivial correlations complicating the interpretation of measurements. We realize an alternative route towards Anderson localization of cold atoms using a mixture of two strongly mass-imbalanced atomic species without any externally imposed disordered potential. On short time scales, the heavy component can be considered immobile and creates a quasi-static scattering potential for the light component that experiences Anderson localization under appropriate conditions. Experimental results allow for a quantitative description based on the model of randomly distributed resonant point scatterers. This demonstrates an interesting and fruitful link between the phenomenon of (single-particle) Anderson localization and the so-called many-body localization that takes place in interacting quantum systems composed of many particles, which is the case of our experimental system.

•Feb 23, 2026•0 citations

Multiple Scattering of Light in Atomic Gases: From Levy Flights to Random Lasers

Robin Kaiser

Cold atoms have emerged as interesting quantum system to study coherent transport properties of light. First experiments have established that dilute samples with large optical thickness allow studying weak localization of light. The present goal of this research is to study coherent transport of photons in dense samples. The quest for Anderson localization of light is among the most interesting questions currently studied. One important aspect in the quest of Anderson localization of light with cold atoms is the relation of Anderson localization and Dicke super- or subradiance. With large and dense samples of cold atoms the interplay between these different phenomena can be studied. During this research one also has to study anomalous diffusion (Lévy flights of photons) and new situations such as a random lasing can arise if one combines gain with multiple scattering. Cold atoms thus continue to allow for new exciting physics to be investigated.

Frontiers in Optics•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

Anderson localization of light by cold atoms

S. E. Skipetrov

Large ensembles of cold, immobile atoms might serve as ideal model systems to study Anderson localization of light. In contrast to dielectric systems, atomic clouds allow for a fine experimental control and admit a precise theoretical description. In this talk, we will review the recent theoretical developments aimed at paving a path towards an experimental realization of Anderson localization of light in three-dimensional (3D) atomic systems. Because atoms are the simplest point scatterers, considering light scattering on them is a good opportunity to illustrate several basic concepts and methods of the localization theory (Thouless conductance and Ioffe-Regel criterion, the mobility edge and the critical behavior, the scaling and self-consistent theories, the finite-size scaling procedure, etc.) on a concrete example. We will show that, surprisingly, Anderson localization of light by atoms is impossible in 3D if no special efforts are made to suppress near-field interactions between atoms. The necessary suppression may be achieved by subjecting the atoms to a constant external magnetic field or by arranging them in a crystalline structure in which a small amount of disorder is introduced. However, even when spatially localized states appear in a system of immobile atoms, their experimental observation remains challenging because of the residual thermal motion of atoms.

•Oct 7, 2020•0 citations

Localization versus subradiance in three-dimensional scattering of light

Noel Araujo Moreira

A blue sky, a white cloud or a red sunset are explained by classical multiple scattering theory of light. However, these phenomena neglect interference occurrence. Once it is taken into account, interference in a disordered medium may actually put a halt to the propagation of light, an effect known as Anderson Localization. Until now, experimental reports of Anderson Localization of light in 3D systems have not been conclusive. Our goal is to understand what are the underlying obstacles, and look for new insights from a theoretical point of view. In this dissertation, the properties of a cloud of two-level atoms scattering light are investigated. The dipole-dipole interaction generates collective modes, some of them, being localized. We found that finite-size effects dominate the lifetime of the localized modes, specifically by the ratio of localization length to their distance to the system boundaries. Localized modes saturates at maximum of 20% even above phase transition. Studying the steady-state regime, the coupling between localized modes and light is weak. Both results agrees with the difficulty of experimental evidence of light localization and promote the link of experiments and theory.

•Oct 4, 2019•1 citation

Anderson localization of ultracold atoms

Alain Aspect, M. Inguscio

To study localized matter waves, two experimental groups hold a Bose–Einstein condensate in the grip of a disordered but tunable optical potential formed by interfering laser beams.

Physics Today•Jul 31, 2009•164 citations
While Anderson is a single-particle wave effect, guaranteeing a single excitation in the system can be challenging. We here tackle this limitation in the context of light localization in three dimensions in disordered cold atom clouds, in presence of several photons. We show that the presence of these multiple excitations does not affect substantially the abnormal intensity fluctuations which characterize the Anderson localization transition, provided that the radiated light is frequency filtered. Due to their narrow linewidth, long-lived modes, and particularly the localized ones, are strongly saturated even for a weak resonant pump, leading to a large increase of the inelastic scattering and to reduced fluctuations in the total radiation. Yet the atomic coherences and the resulting elastic scattering remain a proper witness of the Anderson localization transition. Hence, frequency filtering allows one to investigate the single-excitation sector, dismissing the many-body effects showing up in the fluorescence spectrum.
Anderson localization – the halt of quantum transport in a strongly disordered potential – has been observed for quantum gases in optical potentials. An important stage of experiments is the creation and characterization of the optical (speckle) potential that typically features nontrivial correlations complicating the interpretation of measurements. We realize an alternative route towards Anderson localization of cold atoms using a mixture of two strongly mass-imbalanced atomic species without any externally imposed disordered potential. On short time scales, the heavy component can be considered immobile and creates a quasi-static scattering potential for the light component that experiences Anderson localization under appropriate conditions. Experimental results allow for a quantitative description based on the model of randomly distributed resonant point scatterers. This demonstrates an interesting and fruitful link between the phenomenon of (single-particle) Anderson localization and the so-called many-body localization that takes place in interacting quantum systems composed of many particles, which is the case of our experimental system.
Cold atoms have emerged as interesting quantum system to study coherent transport properties of light. First experiments have established that dilute samples with large optical thickness allow studying weak localization of light. The present goal of this research is to study coherent transport of photons in dense samples. The quest for Anderson localization of light is among the most interesting questions currently studied. One important aspect in the quest of Anderson localization of light with cold atoms is the relation of Anderson localization and Dicke super- or subradiance. With large and dense samples of cold atoms the interplay between these different phenomena can be studied. During this research one also has to study anomalous diffusion (Lévy flights of photons) and new situations such as a random lasing can arise if one combines gain with multiple scattering. Cold atoms thus continue to allow for new exciting physics to be investigated.
Large ensembles of cold, immobile atoms might serve as ideal model systems to study Anderson localization of light. In contrast to dielectric systems, atomic clouds allow for a fine experimental control and admit a precise theoretical description. In this talk, we will review the recent theoretical developments aimed at paving a path towards an experimental realization of Anderson localization of light in three-dimensional (3D) atomic systems. Because atoms are the simplest point scatterers, considering light scattering on them is a good opportunity to illustrate several basic concepts and methods of the localization theory (Thouless conductance and Ioffe-Regel criterion, the mobility edge and the critical behavior, the scaling and self-consistent theories, the finite-size scaling procedure, etc.) on a concrete example. We will show that, surprisingly, Anderson localization of light by atoms is impossible in 3D if no special efforts are made to suppress near-field interactions between atoms. The necessary suppression may be achieved by subjecting the atoms to a constant external magnetic field or by arranging them in a crystalline structure in which a small amount of disorder is introduced. However, even when spatially localized states appear in a system of immobile atoms, their experimental observation remains challenging because of the residual thermal motion of atoms.
A blue sky, a white cloud or a red sunset are explained by classical multiple scattering theory of light. However, these phenomena neglect interference occurrence. Once it is taken into account, interference in a disordered medium may actually put a halt to the propagation of light, an effect known as Anderson Localization. Until now, experimental reports of Anderson Localization of light in 3D systems have not been conclusive. Our goal is to understand what are the underlying obstacles, and look for new insights from a theoretical point of view. In this dissertation, the properties of a cloud of two-level atoms scattering light are investigated. The dipole-dipole interaction generates collective modes, some of them, being localized. We found that finite-size effects dominate the lifetime of the localized modes, specifically by the ratio of localization length to their distance to the system boundaries. Localized modes saturates at maximum of 20% even above phase transition. Studying the steady-state regime, the coupling between localized modes and light is weak. Both results agrees with the difficulty of experimental evidence of light localization and promote the link of experiments and theory.