The phenomenon of Anderson localization was proposed 65 years ago to understand the observed metal-insulator transition in electron conduction. Many attemps to observe electron localization were conteststed. Numerical experiments - "indignified" according to its creator - revealed Anderson localization, accompanied by critical behavior and finite-size scaling near the mobility edge. The first experiments with classical waves were done at the end of the former century, argued to be easier because free from dephasing and interactions. Localization of acoustic, elastic and micro waves has been reported, and recently even the 3D localization of cold atoms in light speckle. The observation of 3D light remains one of the holy grails. The sample needs to be one hundred million times denser than a fog with 1 meter visibility and this is challenging. A recent numercial experiments done with randomly positionned, resonant electric dipoles revealed no Anderson transition, not even for many dipoles packed together within a cubic wavelength, although this was widely believed to be the simplest model to describe localization of light. We will give an argument what breaks down in Anderson's "Theory of White Paint". Philip Anderson died 3 years ago, the controversy may go on forever, and so will his legacy.

The lecture will be held in-person in Leonard Sosnowski Auditorium.
Coffee and tea will be available on the spot.