| The recent discovery of lasing in random media has received considerable attention. This phenomenon has important potential practical applications, especially with regard to reducing the cost of commercial lasers. However, the physics involved is not yet well understood. Specifically, there is the question of how optical gain in random media can enhance light scattering while simultaneously leading to enhanced light confinement.; To better understand the physics involved and to help experimentalists, this research has developed several simulation tools and conducted investigations using these tools to probe the properties of random lasers. The studies have included: (1) optical transport and cavity properties of one-dimensional and two-dimensional random media; (2) spatial and spectral correlation functions of electromagnetic waves transmitted through random passive and active media within a two-dimensional waveguide geometry; and (3) development of a four-level, two-electron model of optical materials having nonlinear gain.; This research has improved the understanding of how the optical gain of active random materials affects light localization. The four-level two-electron model of optical gain media may be the most sophisticated yet reported. |
