Maximal energy transport through disordered media with the implementation of transmission eigenchannels

Abstract

Complex media such as random nanostructures and biological tissues induce multiple wave scattering, which interrupts the propagation of waves and attenuates energy transmission. Even for a highly disordered medium, however, it is possible in principle to enhance the delivery of energy to the far side of the medium. Similar to the resonator modes in linear optical cavities, specific modes called eigenchannels exist in a disordered medium and have extraordinarily high transmission. In this Letter, we report the first experimental realization of transmission eigenchannels in a disordered medium and show that an eigenchannel transports 3.99 times more energy than uncontrolled waves, which is the best experimental record reported to date. Our study will open up new avenues for enhancing light energy delivery to biological tissues for medical purposes and for controlling the lasing threshold in random lasers.