Two-dimensional localized modes in nonlinear systems with linear nonlocality and moiré lattices

Periodic structures structured as photonic crystals and optical lattices are fascinating for nonlinear waves engineering in the optics and ultracold atoms communities. Moiré photonic and optical lattices — two-dimensional twisted patterns lie somewhere in between perfect periodic structures and aperiodic ones — are a new emerging investigative tool for studying nonlinear localized waves of diverse types. Herein, a theory of two-dimensional spatial localization in nonlinear periodic systems with fractional-order diffraction (linear nonlocality) and moiré optical lattices is investigated. Specifically, the flat-band feature is well preserved in shallow moiré optical lattices which, interact with the defocusing nonlinearity of the media, can support fundamental gap solitons, bound states composed of several fundamental solitons, and topological states (gap vortices) with vortex charge s = 1 and 2, all populated inside the finite gaps of the linear Bloch-wave spectrum. Employing the linear-stability analysis and direct perturbed simulations, the stability and instability properties of all the localized gap modes are surveyed, highlighting a wide stability region within the first gap and a limited one (to the central part) for the third gap. The findings enable insightful studies of highly localized gap modes in linear nonlocality (fractional) physical systems with shallow moiré patterns that exhibit extremely flat bands.