Anderson cross-localization

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates Anderson localization in 2D optical waveguide arrays with anisotropic disorder, showing strong localization along both axes, with weaker effects crosswise, through theoretical and experimental analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental setup with anisotropic disorder in 2D waveguide arrays and analyzes its localization effects, expanding understanding of disorder-induced localization.

Findings

Localization occurs along both axes due to anisotropic disorder

Localization is stronger along the axis with introduced disorder

Experimental and theoretical results are consistent

Abstract

We report Anderson localization in two-dimensional optical waveguide arrays with disorder in waveguide separation introduced along one axis of the array, in an uncorrelated fashion for each waveguide row. We show that the anisotropic nature of such disorder induces a strong localization along both array axes. The degree of localization in the cross-axis remains weaker than that in the direction in which disorder is introduced. This effect is illustrated both theoretically and experimentally.