Coherent forward scattering in 2D disordered systems

Abstract: We present a detailed numerical and theoretical analysis of the recently discovered phenomenon of coherent forward scattering. This effect manifests itself as a macroscopic interference peak in the forward direction of the momentum distribution of a matter wave launched with finite velocity in a random potential. Focusing on the two-dimensional case, we show that coherent forward scattering generally arises due the confinement of the wave in a finite region of space, and explain under which conditions it can be seen as a genuine signature of Anderson localization.