Nonreciprocal Anderson localization in magneto-optical random structures

We study both analytically and numerically disorder-induced localization of light in random-layered structures with magneto-optical materials. The Anderson localization in such structures demonstrates nonreciprocal features in the averaged localization length and individual transmission resonances. We employ the short-wavelength approximation where the localization effects are strong and consider both the Faraday and Voigt magneto-optical geometries. In the Faraday geometry, the transmission is strongly nonreciprocal for the circularly polarized waves, whereas in the Voigt geometry, the nonreciprocity is much weaker and it may appear only for the individual transmission resonances of the TM-polarized waves.