Anomalous Localization Crossovers From the Competition Between Disorder and Lattice Order in Moiré Lattices

ABSTRACT Controlling light localization in complex photonic lattices is crucial for both fundamental physics and practical photonic applications. This study reveals an anomalous localization crossover in photonic moiré lattices driven by the competition between disorder and intrinsic lattice order. Through combined theoretical and experimental investigations, it is demonstrated that in commensurate (periodic) moiré lattices, the introduction of disorder causes extended states to undergo rapid and strong localization–an abrupt transition attributed to the combined effect of their narrow‐band characteristics and disorder. As disorder further increases, the system gradually evolves into a disorder‐dominated Anderson localization phase. On the other hand, in incommensurate (aperiodic) moiré lattices, flat‐band localized states exhibit only slight broadening under the influence of disorder, followed by a monotonic evolution toward Anderson localization. The observed evolutionary pathways are emphasized as significantly different from those reported in previous studies, thereby highlighting the crucial role of the initial band structure and structural periodicity in determining the system's response to disorder.