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arXiv · 1211.1587

Coherent and Incoherent Multiple Scattering

Abstract

We compare two different models of transport of light in a disordered system with a spherical Gaussian distribution of scatterers. A coupled dipole model, keeping into account all interference effects, is compared to an incoherent model, using a random walk of particles. Besides the well known coherent backscattering effect and a well pronounced forward lobe, the incoherent model reproduces extremely well all scattering features. In an experiment with cold atoms, we use the momentum recoil imparted on the center of mass of the sample as a partial probe of the light scattering properties. We find that the force acting on the center of mass of the atoms is not well suited to exhibit the coherence effects in light propagation under multiple scattering conditions.

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Julien Chabe, Mohamed-Taha Rouabah, Louis Bellando, Tom Bienaime, Nicola Piovella, Romain Bachelard, Robin Kaiser. 2014-04-04. Coherent and Incoherent Multiple Scattering. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.89.043833

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