Anderson localization of light in a random configuration of nanocolumns

Abstract

We show pseudogap maps of Anderson localization of light adopting the parameters of self-organized nanocolumn samples, which consist of random arrays of parallel nanosized columnar semiconductor crystals. The maps indicate the parametric dependence of the localization effect. To obtain the maps, we simulated light propagation in open random media using the two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method and analyzed the simulation results by Fourier transformation. We found that the shape of the pseudogaps is close to the one of bandgaps in photonic crystals. We conclude that strong localization of light occurs because of interference by average Bragg diffraction, not strong Mie resonant peaks. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.