Observation of magnetically induced transverse diffusion of light

摘要: PHOTONS and electrons, despite their very different nature, show many similarities in behaviour. Several photonic counterparts of established electronic phenomena—such as energy bands1, weak localization2–4, the quantization of5 (and fluctuations in6–8) optical transmission—have now been observed. These originate wave-like character both photons electrons. But unlike photons, electrons are also charged, thus experience Lorentz force a magnetic field. This leads to well known Hall effect, which application field an electron-transporting medium generates new current (or voltage) perpendicular direction original applied Despite absence charge, one us has predicted9 that propagation light through disordered, scattering should be similarly affected by field, although origin effect is different. Here we report experimental confirmation this phenomenon.