Abstract

Waves in complex media are often strongly scattered due to mesoscopic heterogeneities, leading to unusual and fascinating phenomena which continue to challenge our basic understanding of wave physics. One of the most striking effects is the complete inhibition of wave propagation, due to disorder, that may occur in very strongly scattering samples when waves become localized. Ultrasonic techniques are well suited for investigating this phenomenon since complete information about wave propagation (both amplitude and phase, in both time and space) can be measured directly in samples with well controlled internal structures. In this talk, the speaker will focus on the recent progress in answering the long–standing question of whether or not the Anderson localization of classical waves can really occur in three-dimensional disordered materials. This work is making it possible to study aspects of classical wave localization that have not previously been amenable to experimental investigation, and is contributing to the current resurgence of interest in localization across several domains of physics.

About the speaker

Prof John Page leads the internationally recognized Ultrasonics Research Laboratory in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manitoba, where he holds the title of Distinguished Professor. He came to the University of Manitoba in 1985 as a University Research Fellow of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), following doctoral studies at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and postdoctoral research at Université Paris VI and Queen’s University. Described as “Canada’s leading expert in fundamental acoustics”, he specializes in the study of novel wave phenomena in strongly scattering condensed matter systems, and the development of new ultrasonic scattering techniques to probe the structure and dynamics of heterogeneous materials.

The seminar is free and open to all. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

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