arXiv · 2604.22919
Delocalization transition for light in two dimensions
Abstract
Common belief, confirmed by existing experiments, is that arbitrarily weak disorder should lead to spatial localization of eigenmodes of scalar wave equations when wave propagation is two-dimensional (2D). We predict that contrary to this belief, a localization-delocalization transition can take place for light scattered by two-level atoms placed at random positions in the middle plane of a parallel-plate 2D waveguide fed by its fundamental transverse-magnetic (TM) mode (electric field polarized perpendicular to the waveguide and atomic planes). This transition, driven by near-field dipole-dipole interactions between atoms, occurs upon increasing the areal number density of atoms beyond some critical value. A finite-size scaling analysis of the transition yields an estimate of its critical exponent ${\nu}$ = 1.4 $\pm$ 0.2.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Sébastien Lucas, Christian Miniatura, Sergey E. Skipetrov. 2026-04-24. Delocalization transition for light in two dimensions. https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.22919
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.