Engineering Light Transport in Disordered Soft Materials

The optical properties of materials for applications such as structural color, UV filtering, and solar cells depend on a combination of absorption, multiple scattering, and constructive interference. The interplay between these effects can lead to unusual light transport properties such as enhancement of absorption. However, the physics underlying light transport in disordered materials with moderate multiple scattering and absorption is not well understood, making it difficult to engineer materials with prescribed optical properties. We use a Monte Carlo simulation to model the transport of light through disordered soft materials with embedded absorber. By investigating a variety of model systems, we develop a fundamental understanding of the effects of absorber placement on the optical properties of the material. We compare these simulations to preliminary experimental results to support our findings.