Intensity distribution of scalar waves propagating in random media

Abstract

Transmission of the scalar field through the random medium, represented by the system of randomly distributed dielectric cylinders is calculated numerically. System is mapped to the problem of electronic transport in disordered two-dimensional systems. Universality of the statistical distribution of transmission parameters is analyzed in the metallic and in the localized regimes.In the metallic regime the universality of the transmission statistics in all transparent channels is observed. In the band gaps, we distinguish the disorder induced (Anderson) localization from the tunneling through the system due to the gap in the density of states. We show also that absorption causes rapid decrease of the mean conductance, but, contrary to the localized regime, the conductance is self-averaged with a Gaussian distribution.