Particlelike wave packets in complex scattering systems

Benoît Gérardin, Jérôme Laurent, Philipp Ambichl, Claire Prada, Stefan Rotter, and Alexandre Aubry
Phys. Rev. B 94, 014209 – Published 25 July 2016
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Abstract

A wave packet undergoes a strong spatial and temporal dispersion while propagating through a complex medium. This wave scattering is often seen as a nightmare in wave physics whether it be for focusing, imaging, or communication purposes. Controlling wave propagation through complex systems is thus of fundamental interest in many areas, ranging from optics or acoustics to medical imaging or telecommunications. Here, we study the propagation of elastic waves in a cavity and a disordered waveguide by means of laser interferometry. From the direct experimental access to the time-delay matrix of these systems, we demonstrate the existence of particlelike wave packets that remain focused in time and space throughout their complex trajectory. Due to their limited dispersion, their selective excitation will be crucially relevant for all applications involving selective wave focusing and efficient information transfer through complex media.

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  • Received 24 January 2016
  • Revised 11 May 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.014209

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & OpticalGeneral PhysicsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Benoît Gérardin1, Jérôme Laurent1, Philipp Ambichl2, Claire Prada1, Stefan Rotter2, and Alexandre Aubry1,*

  • 1ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, UMR 7587, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
  • 2Institute for Theoretical Physics, Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), Wiedner Hauptstraβe 8-10/136, A-1040 Vienna, Austria

  • *alexandre.aubry@espci.fr

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Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 1 — 1 July 2016

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