Microscopic Theory of Light Propagation and Localization in Periodic, Disordered, and Laser-active Media

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Structuring a medium an the length scale of the light wavelength, either periodically or randomly (sintered dielectric powders etc.), as well as non-linearities in the dielectric response can drastically alter the properties of light in the medium. The goal of this project is to develop theories which provide, on a microscopic level, an understanding of the fundamental properties of light emission, propagation, and localization in such media, and which may thereby help to employ these properties in the design of micro-optical devices. The project encompasses two distinct research topics: (1) Non-linear optical effects in twodimensional wave guides with metallic nanoparticles due to coupling of particle-plasmons and photonic wave-guide modes (particle-plasmon polaritons). (2) Laser action in strongly disordered, active media without macroscopic resonator, where light confinement and laser feedback are achieved by multiple random scattering ("random laser"). The two topics are related to each other both with respect to the physical systems studied and to the methods used for their investigation. The semi-analytic description by self-consistent Feynman propagator techniques will be complemented by numerical finite difference time domain (FDTD) calculations of the wave fields. Subproject (1) will be done especially in close collaboration with Project C1.