1996/01/08 by C. W. J. Beenakker, J. C. J. Paasschens, J.C.J. Paasschens +2 · 2 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Optical Polarization and Ellipsometry #Photonic Crystals and Applications #Random lasers and scattering media #cond-mat
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.76.1368
published as Phys.Rev.Lett. 76, 1368 (1996) · 8 pages (revtex), 3 figures, to appear in Phys.Rev.Lett
arxiv created 1996/01/08 · openalex publication_date 1996/02/19 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A theory is presented (and supported by numerical simulations) for phase-coherent reflection of light by a disordered medium which either absorbs or amplifies radiation. The distribution of reflection eigenvalues is shown to be the Laguerre ensemble of random-matrix theory. The statistical fluctuations of the albedo (the ratio of reflected and incident power) are computed for arbitrary ratio of sample thickness, mean free path, and absorption or amplification length. On approaching the laser threshold all moments of the distribution of the albedo diverge. Its modal value remains finite, however, and acquires an anomalous dependence on the illuminated surface area.