Localization in a random phase-conjugating medium - art. no. 041804

We theoretically study reflection and transmission of light in a one-dimens ional disordered phase-conjugating medium. Using an invariant imbedding app roach a Fokker-Planck equation for the distribution of the probe light refl ectance and expressions for the average probabilities of reflection and tra nsmission are derived. A new crossover length scale for localization of lig ht is found, which depends on the competition between phase conjugation and disorder. For weak disorder, our analytical results are in good agreement with numerical simulations.