Boundary-induced Anderson localization in photonic lattices

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through numerical analysis that disordered boundaries in photonic waveguide arrays can induce Anderson localization within the bulk of the structure, even in relatively wide ribbons.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that boundary disorder alone can cause bulk localization in photonic lattices, expanding understanding of Anderson localization mechanisms.

Findings

Disordered boundaries induce bulk localization in photonic ribbons.

Localization occurs even in wide waveguide arrays.

Boundary disorder affects propagation constants and coupling.

Abstract

We analyze numerically localization of light in linear square waveguide arrays restricted in one dimension (``ribbons''), whose boundaries are disordered in propagation constant and/or coupling. We find that the disordered boundary induces a localization tendency in the bulk even for relatively wide ribbons.