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arXiv · 1805.04314

Localization transition for light scattering by cold atoms in an external magnetic field

S. E. Skipetrov
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Abstract

We establish a localization phase diagram for light in a random three-dimensional (3D) ensemble of motionless two-level atoms with a three-fold degenerate upper level, in a strong static magnetic field. Localized modes appear in a narrow spectral band when the number density of atoms $ρ$ exceeds a critical value $ρ_c \simeq 0.1 k_0^3$, where $k_0$ is the wave number of light in the free space. A critical exponent of the localization transition taking place upon varying the frequency of light at a constant $ρ> ρ_c$ is estimated to be $ν= 1.57 \pm 0.07$. This classifies the transition as an Anderson localization transition of 3D orthogonal universality class.

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S. E. Skipetrov. 2018-08-17. Localization transition for light scattering by cold atoms in an external magnetic field. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.121.093601

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