3D Anderson localization of light in disordered systems of dielectric particles

Abstract

We investigate light transport in three-dimensional disordered media composed of irregular dielectric particles using large scale full-wave simulations. For subwavelength particles with size parameter $kr \approx 1$ and high refractive index contrast, we observe a transition from diffusion to a regime characterized by non-exponential decay of time-resolved transmission as disorder increases. The corresponding time-dependent diffusion coefficient decreases with time and approaches a $t^{-1}$ scaling at long times. This dynamical slowdown is accompanied by the emergence of spectrally isolated transmission resonances with Thouless conductance below unity, indicating the dominance of long-lived modes with weak spectral overlap. The late time near-field maps reveal evolving, non-propagating clusters of intensity hotspots. Together, the transport, spectral, and near-field signatures provide consistent numerical evidence for Anderson localization of light in three-dimensional disordered dielectric media.