Effects of nonlinearity on Anderson localization

Abstract

While the study of waves in disordered media, including effects such as Anderson localization, and the study of nonlinear systems, including effects such as soliton propagation, have each received considerable attention, the combined field, nonlinear wave propagation in disordered media, is relatively new. A fundamental question is: Does nonlinearity weaken Anderson localization? In this paper we report the results of an experiment, which can provide conditions filling a gap in the current theory, showing that states remain Anderson localized in the presence of nonlinearity.