Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Letter

Lévy flights of photons with infinite mean free path

Michelle O. Araújo1,*, Thierry Passerat de Silans1,2, and Robin Kaiser1,†

  • 1Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Physique de Nice, F-06560 Valbonne, France
  • 2Departamento de Física/CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Caixa Postal 5008, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil

  • *Present address: Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901, Recife - PE, Brazil.
  • †Corresponding author: robin.kaiser@inphyni.cnrs.fr

Phys. Rev. E 103, L010101 – Published 6 January, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.103.L010101

Abstract

Multiple scattering of light by resonant vapor is characterized by Lévy-type superdiffusion with a single-step size distribution p(x)∝1/x1+α. We investigate Lévy flight of light in a hot rubidium vapor collisional-broadened by 50 torr of He gas. The frequent collisions produce Lorentzian absorptive and emissive profiles with α<1 and a corresponding divergent mean step size. We extract the Lévy parameter α≈0.5 in a multiple-scattering regime from radial profile of the transmission and from violation of the Ohm's law. The measured radial transmission profile and the total diffusive transmission curves are well reproduced by numerical simulations for Lorentzian line shapes.

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Authorization Required

We need you to provide your credentials before accessing this content.

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

References (Subscription Required)

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation