Universal subdiffusion of nonlinear waves in two dimensions with disorder

Abstract

We follow the dynamics of nonlinear waves in two-dimensional disordered lattices with tunable nonlinearity. In the absence of nonlinear terms Anderson localization traps the packet in space. For the nonlinear case a destruction of Anderson localization is found. The packet spreads subdiffusively, and its second moment grows in time asymptotically as $t^\alpha$. We perform fine statistical averaging and test theoretical predictions for $\alpha$. Along with a precise confirmation of the predictions in [Chemical Physics \textbf{375}, 548 (2010)], we also find potentially long lasting intermediate deviations due to a growing number of surface resonances of the wave packet.