The two-dimensional fractional discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation

Abstract

We study a fractional version of the two-dimensional discrete nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation, where the usual discrete Laplacian is replaced by its fractional form that depends on a fractional exponent s that interpolates between the case of an identity operator (s=0) and that of the usual discrete 2D Laplacian (s=1). This replacement leads to a long-range coupling among sites that, at low values of s, decreases the bandwidth and leads to quasi-degenerate states. The mean square displacement of an initially-localized excitation is shown to be ballistic at all times with a ‘speed’ that increases monotonically with the fractional exponent s. We also compute the nonlinear modes and their stability for both, bulk and surface modes. The modulational stability is seen to increase with an increase in the fractional exponent. The trapping of an initially localized excitation shows a selftrapping transition as a function of nonlinearity strength, whose threshold increases with the value of s. In the linear limit, there persists a linear trapping at small s values. This behavior is connected with the decrease of the bandwidth and its associated increase in quasi-degeneracy.