Anomalous wave transport through correlated disorder
Phys. Rev. A 113, 023322 – Published 24 February, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/6t16-f36q
Abstract
Apparently disordered at large scales, aperiodic materials may manifest complex structural correlations at mesoscopic scales, which, in turn, substantially affect their optical properties. Despite theoretical and numerical progress, the precise role of structural correlations has yet to be plainly established experimentally. Here, we use a novel composite scattering medium where the macroscopic concentration of strongly scattering particles can be kept constant while their structural correlations can be controllably adjusted via a small amount of nanoextenders. Using inelastic and elastic spectroscopies we probe both the local and the global consequences of tuning the properties of structural correlations and we are able to observe and characterize multiple phases in the way light diffuses through disordered media. We demonstrate that both the incipient anomalous transport and the extent of subsequent anomalous diffusion depend on the extent of these structural correlations.
