CAREER: Microscopic Study of Photon Localization

在高度无序的介质中，光可以局域化在大小约为光学波长数量级的小区域中。到目前为止，大多数光子局域化实验都是在宏观水平上进行的。我们建议使用近场扫描光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对光子局域化进行微观研究。光局部化和相干放大的相互作用是一个引人入胜的新研究领域。我们将研究光学增益对随机介质中光扩散的影响。除了实验研究外，我们还将使用一种基于时域有限差分法的新方法对光子局部化进行数值模拟。拟议的跨学科研究将对凝聚态物理、光学和激光物理产生重大影响。拟议的教育活动包括：(1)建立一个新的多学科课程，光学在医学和环境科学中的应用；(2)通过万维网启动一个推广计划；(3)让本科生和高中科学教师参与前沿研究工作。光散射是一种常见的现象，发生在云和人体组织中。光在无序介质中的行为不仅引起物理学家的极大兴趣，也引起生物学家的极大兴趣。一种非同寻常的现象是光子局部化：光可以被困在微米大小的随机介质中。到目前为止，还没有光子局部化的直接证据。随着最近纳米技术的进步，我们提出了使用纳米尺寸的尖端来直接探测局域光子。除了实验研究，我们还将用一种新的数值模拟方法计算光子局域化。通过将模拟结果与实验数据进行比较，我们将对光子局域化及其与电子局域化的区别有一个更深刻的认识。拟议的跨学科研究将对凝聚态物理、光学和激光物理产生重大影响。拟议的教育活动包括：(1)创建一门新的多学科课程，光学在医学和环境科学中的应用；(2)通过万维网启动一项推广计划；(3)让本科生和高中科学教师参与前沿研究工作。

In a highly disordered medium, light may be localized in small regions of the size on the order of an optical wavelength. So far most experiments on photon localization are performed on the macroscopic level. We propose microscopic studies of photon localization using a near-field scanning optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The interplay of light localization and coherent amplification is a fascinating new field of research. We will investigate the effect of optical gain on light diffusion in a random medium. In addition to experimental studies, we will simulate photon localization numerically with a new approach based on the finite-difference time-domain method. The proposed interdisciplinary research will make a significant impact on condensed matter physics, optics, and laser physics. The proposed educational activities include: (1) establishment of a new multidisciplinary course, Applications of Optics in Medicine and Environmental Science; (2) initiation of an outreach program through the World-Wide-Web; (3) involvement of undergraduate students and high school science teachers in leading-edge research work. %%%Light scattering is a common phenomenon, occurring in clouds and human tissue. The behavior of light in disordered media is of great interest not only to physicists, but also to biologists. One extraordinary phenomenon is photon localization: light can be "trapped" in a micrometer-sized random medium. So far there has been no direct evidence of photon localization. With the recent advance of nanotechnology, we propose to use nanometer-sized tips to directly probe localized photons. In addition to experimental studies, we will calculate photon localization with a new numerical simulation method. By comparing the simulation result with the experimental data, we will gain a deep insight of photon localization and its difference from electron localization. The proposed interdisciplinary research will make a significant impact on condensed matter physics, optics, and laser physics. The proposed educational activities include: (1) creation of a new multidisciplinary course, Applications of Optics in Medicine and Environmental Science; (2) initiation of an outreach program through the World-Wide-Web; (3) involvement of undergraduate students and high school science teachers in leading-edge research work.***