Anderson localization and nonlinearity in one-dimensional disordered photonic lattices

    Authors

    Y. Lahini; A. Avidan; F. Pozzi; M. Sorel; R. Morandotti; D. N. Christodoulides;Y. Silberberg

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Phys. Rev. Lett.

    Keywords

    INTRABAND DISCRETE BREATHERS; COHERENT BACKSCATTERING; FIELD; DISTRIBUTIONS; WEAK LOCALIZATION; RANDOM-MEDIA; SYSTEMS; LIGHT; DELOCALIZATION; TRANSPORT; PROPAGATION; Physics, Multidisciplinary

    Abstract

    We experimentally investigate the evolution of linear and nonlinear waves in a realization of the Anderson model using disordered one-dimensional waveguide lattices. Two types of localized eigenmodes, flat-phased and staggered, are directly measured. Nonlinear perturbations enhance localization in one type and induce delocalization in the other. In a complementary approach, we study the evolution on short time scales of delta-like wave packets in the presence of disorder. A transition from ballistic wave packet expansion to exponential (Anderson) localization is observed. We also find an intermediate regime in which the ballistic and localized components coexist while diffusive dynamics is absent. Evidence is found for a faster transition into localization under nonlinear conditions.

    Journal Title

    Physical Review Letters

    Volume

    100

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2008

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    4

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000252285500025

    ISSN

    0031-9007

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