Anderson localization

Anderson localization is a phenomenon where waves—such as electrons in a material—become confined or trapped due to disorder or irregularities in their environment. Instead of moving freely, these waves scatter repeatedly, preventing them from spreading out. This effect can turn a material that should conduct electricity into an insulator, as electrons can't travel through the disordered landscape. It highlights how randomness at the microscopic level can significantly alter a material’s behavior, illustrating the interplay between disorder and wave dynamics in physical systems.