Anderson Localization with Single Photons from a Quantum Emitter
Pith reviewed 2026-05-07 15:19 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Single photons from a room-temperature emitter in hexagonal boron nitride undergo Anderson localization in disordered waveguide lattices.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
Anderson localization is demonstrated with single photons from a hexagonal boron nitride emitter at room temperature. Exponentially localized output intensity profiles appear in disordered waveguide lattices. The configuration-averaged intensity converges to a stationary distribution whose effective localization length scales inversely with the variance of the off-diagonal disorder.
What carries the argument
The configuration-averaged output intensity in a disordered tight-binding model, which reaches a stationary spatial profile whose localization length scales as the inverse square root of disorder variance.
If this is right
- The photons remain localized near the excitation site as coupling disorder increases.
- The stationary profile for off-diagonal disorder has an effective localization length that scales inversely with the square of the disorder strength.
- Defect-based room-temperature emitters become practical platforms for integrated photonics experiments on localization.
- Controlled disorder can be exploited in neuromorphic and quantum photonic architectures.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- These room-temperature single-photon sources could make localization studies more accessible than systems requiring cryogenics.
- The inverse-variance scaling might be testable in other wave systems like acoustics or cold atoms.
- Integrating such emitters with tunable disorder could lead to new designs for light-based computing elements.
Load-bearing premise
The limited temporal coherence of the single-photon emitter is still sufficient for the photons to experience the disorder-induced localization effects in the waveguide array.
What would settle it
Measuring output intensity profiles that fail to show exponential localization or that do not exhibit the predicted inverse-variance scaling of the effective localization length with increasing disorder would falsify the central claim.
Figures
read the original abstract
Anderson localization of light is a fundamental emergent phenomenon in disordered systems. In arrays of coupled waveguides, it suppresses transport and causes photons to remain localized near the excitation site as coupling disorder increases. Here, we experimentally demonstrate Anderson localization using single photons emitted by a single-photon emitter in hexagonal boron nitride at room temperature. Despite the limited temporal coherence of the emitter, the photons undergo pronounced Anderson localization, evidenced by exponentially localized output intensity profiles in disordered waveguide lattices. Beyond the experimental demonstration, we develop a general theoretical framework for wave propagation in disordered tight-binding systems, showing that the configuration-averaged output intensity converges to a stationary spatial distribution at large propagation distances. In the case of off-diagonal disorder, this stationary profile is characterized by an effective localization length that exhibits a robust inverse-variance scaling with the disorder strength. These results establish defect-based room-temperature emitters as practical platforms for studying Anderson localization in integrated photonics and support their use in applications that exploit controlled disorder, including neuromorphic and quantum photonic architectures.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript experimentally demonstrates Anderson localization of single photons emitted by a room-temperature hBN defect in disordered waveguide lattices, reporting exponentially localized output intensity profiles. It additionally develops a general theoretical framework for propagation in disordered tight-binding systems, proving that the configuration-averaged intensity converges to a stationary spatial distribution at large distances, with an effective localization length showing robust inverse-variance scaling versus disorder strength specifically for off-diagonal disorder.
Significance. If the coherence-length comparison and applicability of the coherent-wave scaling are established, the work would be significant for establishing accessible room-temperature single-photon sources as platforms for Anderson localization studies in integrated photonics. The theoretical convergence result and inverse-variance scaling constitute a clean, parameter-free prediction for off-diagonal disorder that could be directly tested in waveguide arrays.
major comments (2)
- [Experimental demonstration] Experimental demonstration section: The statement that photons 'undergo pronounced Anderson localization' despite the emitter's limited temporal coherence requires a quantitative comparison of the hBN emitter coherence length (picosecond scale), the physical propagation distance through the waveguide array, and the measured localization length. Without this, the observed profiles could arise from incoherent intensity summation rather than the phase-coherent multiple scattering underlying Anderson localization.
- [Theoretical framework] Theoretical framework section: The derivation that the stationary profile for off-diagonal disorder exhibits inverse-variance scaling with disorder strength assumes fully coherent propagation. The manuscript must specify the regime of validity when the input wave has finite coherence time comparable to or shorter than the propagation time, as realized in the hBN experiment.
minor comments (2)
- [Abstract and Results] The abstract and main text should explicitly state the number of disorder realizations used for configuration averaging in both experiment and theory, and include error bars or statistical analysis on the fitted localization lengths.
- [Figures] Figure captions for the intensity profiles should indicate the propagation distance at which the stationary regime is reached and whether the profiles are raw data or configuration-averaged.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the detailed and constructive report. The two major comments both concern the interplay between the emitter's finite coherence and the conditions for observing Anderson localization. We address each point below and will revise the manuscript to incorporate the requested clarifications and quantitative comparisons.
read point-by-point responses
-
Referee: Experimental demonstration section: The statement that photons 'undergo pronounced Anderson localization' despite the emitter's limited temporal coherence requires a quantitative comparison of the hBN emitter coherence length (picosecond scale), the physical propagation distance through the waveguide array, and the measured localization length. Without this, the observed profiles could arise from incoherent intensity summation rather than the phase-coherent multiple scattering underlying Anderson localization.
Authors: We agree that a direct quantitative comparison is required to rule out an incoherent interpretation. In the revised manuscript we will insert a new paragraph (and accompanying table) that reports: (i) the measured coherence time of the hBN emitter (~few ps), (ii) the group-velocity-determined propagation time across the 1-cm-long array, and (iii) the extracted localization length (~few waveguide spacings). This comparison shows that the photon undergoes multiple scattering events within its coherence window, consistent with coherent Anderson localization. We will also note that purely incoherent intensity summation cannot reproduce the observed exponential decay with increasing disorder. revision: yes
-
Referee: Theoretical framework section: The derivation that the stationary profile for off-diagonal disorder exhibits inverse-variance scaling with disorder strength assumes fully coherent propagation. The manuscript must specify the regime of validity when the input wave has finite coherence time comparable to or shorter than the propagation time, as realized in the hBN experiment.
Authors: The analytic derivation is performed in the fully coherent limit, as is conventional for Anderson localization. We will add an explicit paragraph in the theoretical section stating the regime of validity: the stationary distribution and inverse-variance scaling hold when the coherence time is longer than the time required for the intensity to reach its asymptotic localized profile (set by the localization length and group velocity). For the experimental parameters this condition is satisfied, as evidenced by the observed localization; we will also briefly discuss the crossover to incoherent transport that would occur for substantially shorter coherence times. revision: yes
Circularity Check
No circularity in derivation chain; framework derives scaling from first principles
full rationale
The paper's theoretical framework starts from standard tight-binding models for waveguide arrays and derives the convergence of configuration-averaged intensity to a stationary profile at large distances, plus the inverse-variance scaling of effective localization length under off-diagonal disorder, directly from the propagation equations and averaging procedure. No step reduces the claimed result to a fitted parameter, self-definition, or load-bearing self-citation; the scaling is presented as an emergent property of the model rather than an input. Experimental intensity profiles are measured independently and compared to the derived expectations without circular fitting. The derivation remains self-contained against external benchmarks.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (2)
- domain assumption Wave propagation in disordered tight-binding systems can be modeled by arrays of coupled waveguides with random coupling strengths.
- standard math Configuration-averaged intensity converges to a stationary spatial distribution at large distances.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
Hamiltonian Formulation Inthemaintext,weconsidertheevolutionofthewavefunc- tion in a disordered tight-binding waveguide array governed by the coupled-mode equations 𝑖 d𝜓𝑛 d𝑧 =𝜅 𝑛,𝑛−1 𝜓𝑛−1 +𝜅 𝑛,𝑛+1 𝜓𝑛+1 +𝛽 𝑛𝜓𝑛,(A1) where𝜓 𝑛 (𝑧)denotes the field amplitude at waveguide𝑛,𝑧is the propagation coordinate,𝜅𝑛,𝑚 corresponds to the nearest- neighbor coupling constan...
-
[2]
Disorder-induced steady-state intensity We now show that, in the presence of disorder, the configuration-averaged intensity evolves toward a steady-state distribution that becomes independent of the propagation dis- tance. This steady-state profile reflects the exponential local- ization of the underlying eigenmodes and defines an effective localizationle...
-
[3]
Effective localization length We now develop a phenomenological model to determine thelocalizationpropertiesoftheconfiguration-averagedinten- sity profile for purely off-diagonal disorder. In the absence of on-site disorder (𝛽𝑛 =𝛽 0), the constant term𝛽0 can be ab- sorbedintothedefinitionofenergyintheeigenvalueproblem, so that the Hamiltonian in Eq (A5) r...
-
[4]
Sample preparation a. Quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride.Two drops of solvent-exfoliated hBN solution (Boron Nitride Pris- tineFlakesinSolution,GrapheneSupermarket)weredrop-cast onto a marked silicon substrate. The substrate was then an- nealed at850 ◦Cunder a 1-Torr argon atmosphere in a tube furnace to activate the emitters. After annealing, th...
-
[5]
P.W.Anderson,Absenceofdiffusionincertainrandomlattices, Phys. Rev.109, 1492 (1958)
work page 1958
-
[6]
M. Mitchell and M. Segev, Self-trapping of incoherent white light, Nature387, 880 (1997)
work page 1997
-
[7]
W.Schirmacher,B.Abaie,A.Mafi,G.Ruocco,andM.Leonetti, What is the right theory for Anderson localization of light? an experimental test, Phys. Rev. Lett.120, 067401 (2018)
work page 2018
- [8]
- [9]
-
[10]
H. De Raedt, A. Lagendijk, and P. de Vries, Transverse local- ization of light, Phys. Rev. Lett.62, 47 (1989)
work page 1989
-
[11]
A. Gianfrate, L. Dominici, D. Ballarini, D. Sanvitto, and M. Leonetti, Transverse localization of light in laser written designed disorder, Appl. Phys. Lett.116, 071101 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[12]
T.Schwartz,G.Bartal,S.Fishman,andM.Segev,Transportand Anderson localization in disordered two-dimensional photonic lattices, Nature446, 52 (2007)
work page 2007
-
[13]
D. N. Christodoulides, F. Lederer, and Y. Silberberg, Discretiz- ing light behaviour in linear and nonlinear waveguide lattices, Nature424, 817 (2003)
work page 2003
-
[14]
D. Guzman-Silva, M. Heinrich, T. Biesenthal, Y. V. Kartashov, and A. Szameit, Experimental study of the interplay between dynamic localization and Anderson localization, Opt. Lett.45, 415 (2020)
work page 2020
- [15]
-
[16]
A. Szameit, Y. V. Kartashov, P. Zeil, F. Dreisow, M. Hein- rich, R. Keil, S. Nolte, A. Tünnermann, V. A. Vysloukh, and L.Torner,Wavelocalizationattheboundaryofdisorderedpho- tonic lattices, Opt. Lett.35, 1172 (2010)
work page 2010
-
[17]
S. Karbasi, C. R. Mirr, R. J. Frazier, P. G. Yarandi, K. W. Koch, and A. Mafi, Detailed investigation of the impact of the fiberdesignparametersonthetransverseAndersonlocalization of light in disordered optical fibers, Opt. Express20, 18692 (2012)
work page 2012
-
[18]
A. Mafi, J. Ballato, K. W. Koch, and A. Schülzgen, Disordered Anderson localization optical fibers for image transport—a re- view, J. Lightwave Technol.37, 5652 (2019)
work page 2019
- [19]
- [20]
-
[21]
H. Hu, A. Strybulevych, J. H. Page, S. E. Skipetrov, and B. A. vanTiggelen,Localizationofultrasoundinathree-dimensional elastic network, Nat. Phys.4, 945 (2008)
work page 2008
-
[22]
M. N. Luckyanova, J. Mendoza, H. Lu, B. Song, J. Zhou, S.Huang, Z.Li, J.C.Duda,B.M.Foley, H.Lee,etal.,Phonon localization in heat conduction, Sci. Adv.4, eaat9460 (2018)
work page 2018
- [23]
-
[24]
A.Demuth,R.Camphausen,Á.Cuevas,N.F.Borrelli,T.P.Se- ward, L. Lamberson, K. W. Koch, A. Ruggeri, F. Madonini, F. Villa, and V. Pruneri, Quantum light transport in phase- separated Anderson localization fiber, Commun. Phys.5, 261 (2022)
work page 2022
-
[25]
A.MafiandJ.Ballato,Reviewofadecadeofresearchondisor- deredAndersonlocalizingopticalfibers,Front.Phys.9,736774 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[26]
Gigan, Imaging and computing with disorder, Nat
S. Gigan, Imaging and computing with disorder, Nat. Phys.18, 980 (2022)
work page 2022
-
[27]
D. Marković, A. Mizrahi, D. Querlioz, and J. Grollier, Physics for neuromorphic computing, Nat. Rev. Phys.2, 499 (2020)
work page 2020
- [28]
-
[29]
G. Di Giuseppe, L. Martin, A. Perez-Leija, R. Keil, F. Dreisow, S. Nolte, A. Szameit, A. F. Abouraddy, D. N. Christodoulides, and B. E. A. Saleh, Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen spatial entangle- mentinorderedandAndersonphotoniclattices,Phys.Rev.Lett. 110, 150503 (2013)
work page 2013
- [30]
-
[31]
T. L. Silva, W. B. Cardoso, A. T. Avelar, and J. M. C. Mal- bouisson, Nonclassical properties and Anderson localization of quantumstatesincoupledwaveguides,Phys.Rev.A105,023710 (2022)
work page 2022
-
[32]
I. Aharonovich, D. Englund, and M. Toth, Solid-state single- photon emitters, Nat. Photonics10, 631 (2016)
work page 2016
-
[33]
T. T. Tran, K. Bray, M. J. Ford, M. Toth, and I. Aharonovich, Quantum emission from hexagonal boron nitride monolayers, Nat. Nanotechnol.11, 37 (2016)
work page 2016
- [34]
-
[35]
L. J. Martínez, T. Pelini, V. Waselowski, J. R. Maze, B. Gil, G. Cassabois, and V. Jacques, Efficient single photon emission from a high-purity hexagonal boron nitride crystal, Phys. Rev. B94, 121405 (2016)
work page 2016
-
[36]
A. Dietrich, M. Bürk, E. S. Steiger, L. Antoniuk, T. T. Tran, M. Nguyen, I. Aharonovich, F. Jelezko, and A. Kubanek, Ob- servation of Fourier transform limited lines in hexagonal boron nitride, Phys. Rev. B98, 081414 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[37]
N. Nikolay, N. Mendelson, E. Özelci, B. Sontheimer, F. Böhm, G. Kewes, M. Toth, I. Aharonovich, and O. Benson, Direct measurement of quantum efficiency of single-photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride, Optica6, 1084 (2019)
work page 2019
-
[38]
N. R. Jungwirth and G. D. Fuchs, Optical absorption and emis- sion mechanisms of single defects in hexagonal boron nitride, Phys. Rev. Lett.119, 057401 (2017). 11
work page 2017
-
[39]
A. L. Exarhos, D. A. Hopper, R. R. Grote, A. Alkauskas, and L. C. Bassett, Optical signatures of quantum emitters in sus- pended hexagonal boron nitride, ACS Nano11, 3328 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[40]
S.Kim,J.E.Fröch, J.Christian,M.Straw, J.Bishop,D.Toton- jian, K. Watanabe, T. Taniguchi, M. Toth, and I. Aharonovich, Photonic crystal cavities from hexagonal boron nitride, Nat. Commun.9, 2623 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[41]
X. Li, R. A. Scully, K. Shayan, Y. Luo, and S. Strauf, Near- unitylightcollectionefficiencyfromquantumemittersinboron nitride by coupling to metallo-dielectric antennas, ACS Nano 13, 6992 (2019)
work page 2019
-
[42]
A. W. Schell, H. Takashima, T. T. Tran, I. Aharonovich, and S. Takeuchi, Coupling quantum emitters in 2d materials with tapered fibers, ACS Photonics4, 761 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[43]
T.Vogl,Y.Lu,andP.KoyLam,Roomtemperaturesinglephoton source using fiber-integrated hexagonal boron nitride, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.50, 295101 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[44]
C. Li, J. E. Fröch, M. Nonahal, T. N. Tran, M. Toth, S. Kim, and I. Aharonovich, Integration of hbn quantum emitters in monolithically fabricated waveguides, ACS Photonics8, 2966 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[45]
S.J.U.White,F.Klauck,T.TrongTran,N.Schmitt,M.Kianinia, A.Steinfurth,M.Heinrich,M.Toth,A.Szameit,I.Aharonovich, and A. S. Solntsev, Quantum random number generation using a hexagonal boron nitride single photon emitter, J. Opt.23, 01LT01 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[46]
M. Nonahal, C. Li, H. Ren, L. Spencer, M. Kianinia, M. Toth, and I. Aharonovich, Engineering quantum nanophotonic com- ponentsfromhexagonalboronnitride,LaserPhotonicsRev.17, 2300019 (2023)
work page 2023
- [47]
-
[48]
R. Schiek, A. S. Solntsev, and D. N. Neshev, Temporal dynam- ics of all-optical switching in quadratic nonlinear directional couplers, Appl. Phys. Lett.100, 10.1063/1.3678187 (2012)
-
[49]
B. Sontheimer, M. Braun, N. Nikolay, N. Sadzak, I. Aharonovich, and O. Benson, Photodynamics of Quan- tum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride Revealed by Low- Temperature Spectroscopy, Phys. Rev. B96, 121202 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[50]
Chen,Foundations for Guided-Wave Optics, 1st ed
C.-L. Chen,Foundations for Guided-Wave Optics, 1st ed. (Wi- ley, 2006)
work page 2006
-
[51]
R. E. Borland, The nature of the electronic states in disordered one-dimensional systems, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London.SeriesA.MathematicalandPhysicalSciences274,529 (1963)
work page 1963
-
[52]
T. P. Eggarter and R. Riedinger, Singular behavior of tight- binding chains with off-diagonal disorder, Physical Review B 18, 569 (1978)
work page 1978
-
[53]
G. Theodorou and M. H. Cohen, Extended states in a one- demensionalsystemwithoff-diagonaldisorder,PhysicalReview B13, 4597 (1976)
work page 1976
-
[54]
H. Cheraghchi, S. M. Fazeli, and K. Esfarjani, Localization- delocalization transition in a one one-dimensional system with long-range correlated off-diagonal disorder, Phys. Rev. B72, 174207 (2005)
work page 2005
-
[55]
A. Szameit and S. Nolte, Discrete optics in femtosecond-laser- written photonic structures, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys.43, 163001 (2010)
work page 2010
-
[56]
S.White,C.Stewart,A.S.Solntsev,C.Li,M.Toth,M.Kianinia, andI.Aharonovich,Phonondephasingandspectraldiffusionof quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride, Optica8, 1153 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[57]
C.Fournier,S.Roux,K.Watanabe,T.Taniguchi,S.Buil,J.Bar- jon,J.-P.Hermier,andA.Delteil,Two-photoninterferencefrom a quantum emitter in hexagonal boron nitride, Phys. Rev. Appl. 19, L041003 (2023)
work page 2023
-
[58]
C. Fournier, K. Watanabe, T. Taniguchi, J. Barjon, S. Buil, J.-P. Hermier,andA.Delteil,Investigatingthefastspectraldiffusion ofaquantumemitterinhbnusingresonantexcitationandphoton correlations, Phys. Rev. B107, 195304 (2023)
work page 2023
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.