Effect of polarization upon light localization in random layered magnetodielectric media

Light propagation in a random system of isotropic magnetodielectric layers is studied numerically and analytically. It is shown that if the values of permittivity and permeability are randomly distributed, whereas the characteristic impedance does not change throughout the system, the Lyapunov exponent (the inverse localization length) grows with the angle of incidence and does not depend on the polarization of the incident wave. This independence appears only on the ensemble averaging because in any specific realization the transmission coefficients for s- and p-polarized light are different. The numerical results confirm analytical analysis.