Wave localization at the boundary of disordered photonic lattices

TL;DR

This paper experimentally demonstrates that boundaries in disordered photonic lattices influence light localization, requiring higher disorder levels near the boundary compared to the bulk, revealing boundary effects on wave localization.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental evidence of boundary effects on wave localization in disordered photonic lattices, highlighting the need for higher disorder levels at boundaries.

Findings

Localization occurs at the boundary with higher disorder levels.

Boundary effects influence light transport in disordered lattices.

Reduced energy transport observed near the boundary.

Abstract

We report on the experimental observation of reduced light energy transport and disorder-induced localization close to a boundary of a truncated one-dimensional (1D) disordered photonic lattice. Our observations uncover that near the boundary a higher level of disorder is required to obtain similar localization than in the bulk.