We present a detailed discussion of scalar wave propagation and light intensity transport in three-dimensional random dielectric media with optical gain. The intrinsic length and time scales of such amplifying systems are studied and comprehensively discussed as well as the threshold characteristics of single- and two-particle propagators. Our semianalytical theory is based on a self-consistent Cooperon resummation, representing the repeated self-interference, and incorporates as well optical gain and absorption, modeled in a semianalytical way by a finite imaginary part of the dielectric function. Energy conservation in terms of a generalized Ward identity is taken into account.

• Received 11 April 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.84.013814