Transport properties of waves in absorbing random media with microstructure

Diffusion of waves in absorbing random media with microstructure is studied. A resonant correction to the transport mean free path ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathit{T}}$ is calculated. It is shown that in the certain range of wavelengths this correction leads to a growth of the ${\mathit{l}}_{\mathit{T}}$ compared to its nonresonant value. Significant changes in the transport velocity, the transport mean free path, and the diffusion constant caused by absorption are also found. In addition, we show that the use of the on-shell transfer matrix can lead to erroneous results. © 1996 The American Physical Society.