Anderson attractors in active arrays

TL;DR

This paper explores how nonlinear, dissipative, disordered systems can form stable multi-peak patterns called Anderson attractors, advancing understanding of wave localization and dynamics in active media.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of Anderson attractors in dissipative nonlinear disordered systems, highlighting the role of pumping thresholds and mode interactions in their formation.

Findings

Anderson modes have specific excitation thresholds related to pumping strength.

Above threshold, stable multi-peak patterns emerge as attractors.

Potential realization in polariton condensates and active waveguide arrays.

Abstract

In dissipationless linear media, spatial disorder induces Anderson localization of matter, light, and sound waves. The addition of nonlinearity causes interaction between the eigenmodes, which results in a slow wave diffusion. We go beyond the dissipationless limit of Anderson arrays and consider nonlinear disordered systems that are subjected to the dissipative losses and energy pumping. We show that the Anderson modes of the disordered Ginsburg-Landau lattice possess specific excitation thresholds with respect to the pumping strength. When pumping is increased above the threshold for the band-edge modes, the lattice dynamics yields an attractor in the form of a stable multi-peak pattern. The Anderson attractor is the result of a joint action by the pumping-induced mode excitation, nonlinearity-induced mode interactions, and dissipative stabilization. The regimes of Anderson attractors can be potentially realized with polariton condensates lattices, active waveguide or cavity-QED arrays.