CAREER: Microscopic Study of Photon Localization

在高度无序的介质中，光可以局限在光波长量级的小区域中。到目前为止，大多数光子局域化的实验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的光子本地化的微观研究。光的局域化和相干放大的相互作用是一个迷人的新的研究领域。我们将研究光增益对光在随机介质中扩散的影响。除了实验研究，我们将模拟光子本地化的数值与一种新的方法的基础上的时域有限差分法。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。建议的教育活动包括：（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）大学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对物理学家，而且对生物学家都很感兴趣。一个不寻常的现象是光子局域化：光可以被“捕获”在一个微米大小的随机介质中。到目前为止，还没有光子局域化的直接证据。随着纳米技术的发展，我们提出使用纳米针尖直接探测局域光子。除了实验研究之外，我们还将使用新的数值模拟方法计算光子定位。通过模拟结果与实验数据的比较，我们将对光子局域化及其与电子局域化的区别有更深入的了解。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）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.***