Anderson localization in synthetic photonic lattices.

Area of Science:

• Wave physics
• Photonics
• Optical lattices

Background:

• Synthetic photonic lattices enable the study of wave physics phenomena.
• Anderson localization is a key concept in disordered systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally observe Anderson localization for optical pulses in the time domain.
• To investigate the impact of disorder and band-gap width on localization.
• To demonstrate control over optical pulse localization in photonic lattices.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a photonic mesh lattice composed of coupled fiber loops.
• Introducing controlled disorder via electro-optic pulse phase modulation.
• Varying inter-loop coupling to control band-gap width.

Main Results:

• Experimental observation of Anderson localization for optical pulses in the time domain.
• Identification of localization features correlating with the degree of disorder.
• Demonstration that localization strength increases with wider band-gaps.
• Localization is limited and influenced by band-gap width.

Conclusions:

• Synthetic photonic lattices are effective for studying Anderson localization.
• Control over disorder and band-gap width allows for manipulation of optical pulse localization.
• This work offers a method to enhance or reduce disorder effects on optical pulses.