Coherent multiple scattering in disordered media

Eric Akkermans, G. Montambaux

Published 2001-04-01Version 1

These notes contain a rapid overview of the methods and results obtained in the field of propagation of waves in disordered media. The case of Schr\"odinger and Helmholtz equations are considered that describe respectively electrons in metals and scalar electromagnetic waves. The assumptions on the nature of disorder are discussed and perturbation methods in the weak disorder limit are presented. A central quantity, namely the probability of quantum diffusion is defined and calculated in the same limit. It is then shown that several relevant physical quantities are related to the return probability. Examples are provided to substantiate this, which include the average electrical conductivity, its fluctuations, the average albedo and spectral correlations.