The four-wave interaction in quantum nonlinear Schrödinger lattices with disorder is shown to destroy the Anderson localization of waves, giving rise to unlimited spreading of the nonlinear field to large distances. Moreover, the process is not thresholded in the quantum domain, contrary to its “classical” counterpart, and leads to an accelerated spreading of the subdiffusive type, with the dispersion $\langle {\left(\mathrm{\Delta }n\right)}^2\rangle \sim t^{1/2}$ for $t\to +\infty$. The results, presented here, shed light on the origin of subdiffusion in systems with a broad distribution of relaxation times.

• Received 7 December 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.95.042142