We have studied the distribution of resonance widths $P\left(\Gamma \right)$ in one-, two-, and three-dimensional multiple light scattering systems. $P\left(\Gamma \right)$ should follow a universal power law $P\left(\Gamma \right)\sim {\Gamma }^{-1}$ in the localized regime as confirmed by extensive numerical calculations. This behavior can be interpreted as an unambiguous signature of exponential Anderson localization of light in open systems.

Universal properties of the spectra of certain matrices describing multiple elastic scattering of scalar waves from a collection of randomly distributed point-like objects are discovered. The elements of these matrices are equal to the free-space Green’s function calculated for the differences between positions of any pair of scatterers. A striking physical interpretation within Breit-Wigner’s model of the single scatterer is elaborated. Proximity resonances and Anderson localization are considered as two illustrative examples.

The ionization dynamics of Ar and Xe clusters irradiated with intense vacuum ultraviolet light from a free-electron laser is investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy. Clusters comprising between 70 and 900 atoms were irradiated with femtosecond pulses at 95 nm wavelength ($\sim 13\mathrm{eV}$ photon energy) and a peak intensity of $\sim 4\times {10}^{12}\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2$. A broad thermal distribution of emitted electrons from clusters with a maximum kinetic energy up to 30–40 eV is observed. The observation of relatively low-energy photoelectrons is in good agreement with calculations using a time-dependent Thomas-Fermi model and gives experimental evidence of an outer ionization process of the clusters, due to delayed thermoelectronic emission.

A systematic approach to the localization of light waves in three-dimensional dielectric media is developed. A general definition of localization of electromagnetic waves is proposed and its consequences are elaborated. A significant amount of localization of the energy density of the electromagnetic field is predicted in finite systems of randomly distributed dielectric particles modeled by dipoles linearly coupled to the electric field of the incident wave. Although in this case it is not possible to achieve perfect localization, the predicted phenomenon is experimentally indistinguishable from a complete localization. Our approach is based directly on the Maxwell equations; the vector character of the electromagnetic waves is fully taken into account. The concepts presented in our previous paper [M. Rusek and A. Orłowski, Phys. Rev. E 51, R2763 (1995)] are now generalized to the three-dimensional case. Instead of using the Kirchhoff integral formula for scalar waves, we now analyze light scattering by pointlike dielectric particles as the special case of general considerations dealing with elastic scattering of electromagnetic waves by arbitrary localized charges and currents.

A refined three-dimensional version of the time-dependent Thomas-Fermi model is used to qualitatively study the explosion of rare-gas atomic clusters in an intense laser field. Clusters as large as 55 atoms are exposed to a strong subpicosecond laser pulse. A stepwise character of the explosion is observed in which atomic shells are expelled sequentially. The role of “hot” electron dynamics in the explosion process is also investigated via initial temperature effects. Contrary to previous opinions it seems that the so-called hydrodynamic explosion scenario is important for most energetic ions coming from the outermost shells only.