Multiple scattering theory in one dimensional space and time dependent disorder: Average field

Abstract

We theoretically study the propagation of light in one-dimensional space- and time-dependent disorder. The disorder is described by a fluctuating permittivity $\epsilon(x,t)$ exhibiting short-range correlations in space and time, without cross correlation between them. Depending on the illumination conditions, we show that the intensity of the average field decays exponentially in space or in time, with characteristic length or time defining the scattering mean-free path $\ell_s$ and the scattering mean-free time $\tau_s$. In the weak scattering regime, we provide explicit expressions for $\ell_s$ and $\tau_s$, that are checked against rigorous numerical simulations.