Transport properties of random media: An energy-density CPA approach

We present an approach for efficient, accurate calculations of the transport properties of random media. It is based on the principle that the wave energy density should be uniform when averaged over length scales larger than the size of the scatterers. This method captures the effects of the resonant scattering of the individual scatterer exactly, and by using a coated sphere as the basic scattering unit, multiple scattering contributions may be incorporated in a mean-field sense. Its application to both ‘‘scalar’’ and ‘‘vector’’ classical waves gives exact results in the long-wavelength limit as well as excellent agreement with experiment for the mean free path, transport velocity, and the diffusion coefficient for finite frequencies. Furthermore, it qualitatively and quantitatively agrees with experiment for all densities of scatterers and contains no adjustable parameter. This approach is of general use and can be easily extended to treat different types of wave propagation in random media. © 1996 The American Physical Society.