High-frequency dynamics of wave localisation

Abstract

We study the effect of localisation on the propagation of a pulse through a multi-mode disordered waveguide. The correlator <u(omega1)u*(omega2)> of the transmitted wave amplitude u at two frequencies differing by delta_omega has for large delta_omega the stretched exponential tail ~exp(-sqrt{tau_D delta_omega/2}). The time constant tau_D=L^2/D is given by the diffusion coefficient D, even if the length L of the waveguide is much greater than the localisation length xi. Localisation has the effect of multiplying the correlator by a frequency-independent factor exp(-L/2xi), which disappears upon breaking time-reversal symmetry.

3 pages, 1 figure