Anderson localization

In <a href="/facts/Condensed_matter_physics/EBVI5nmL">condensed matter physics</a>, Anderson localization (also known as strong localization) is the absence of diffusion of waves in a disordered medium. This phenomenon is named after the American physicist <a href="/facts/P._W._Anderson/xWPbwpsx">P. W. Anderson</a>, who was the first to suggest that electron localization is possible in a lattice potential, provided that the degree of <a href="/facts/Randomness/QJQBoEX5">randomness</a> (disorder) in the lattice is sufficiently large, as can be realized for example in a semiconductor with <a href="/facts/Impurities/FfPvIRoB">impurities</a> or <a href="/facts/Crystallographic_defect/LHJymDro">defects</a>.
Anderson localization is a general wave phenomenon that applies to the transport of electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves, quantum waves, spin waves, etc. This phenomenon is to be distinguished from <a href="/facts/Weak_localization/PSnjGmA5">weak localization</a>, which is the precursor effect of Anderson localization (see below), and from <a href="/facts/Mott_transition/jb6j9WKe">Mott localization</a>, named after Sir <a href="/facts/Nevill_Mott/r1xrUSDh">Nevill Mott</a>, where the transition from metallic to insulating behaviour is not due to disorder, but to a strong mutual <a href="/facts/Coulomb_repulsion/V0lR5NKv">Coulomb repulsion</a> of electrons.

Anderson localization open-in-new

Anderson localization