Spatial Solitons and Anderson Localization

Kestutis Staliunas

Published 2002-05-03, updated 2002-11-18Version 2

Stochastic (Anderson) localization is the spatial localization of the wave-function of quantum particles in random media. We show, that a corresponding phenomenon can stabilize spatial solitons in optical resonators: spatial solitons in resonators with randomly distorted mirrors are more stable than in perfect mirror resonators. We demonstrate the phenomenon numerically, by investigating solitons in lasers with saturable absorber, and analytically by deriving and analyzing coupled equations of spatially coherent and incoherent field components.