Abstract

We theoretically study gap random-phase lattice solitons (gap-RPLSs) in nonlinear waveguide arrays with self-defocusing nonlinearity. We find that the intensity structure and statistical (coherence) properties of gap-RPLSs conform to the lattice periodicity, while their Floquet-Bloch power spectrum is multi-humped with peaks in the anomalous diffractions regions. It is shown that a gap-RPLS can be generated when a simple incoherent beam with bell-shaped power spectrum and single-hump intensity is launched at a proper angle into the waveguide array. The input incoherent beam evolves in the lattice while shedding off some radiation, and eventually attains the features of gap-RPLS.

© 2005 Optical Society of America