Solitons in one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger lattices with a local inhomogeneity

In this paper we analyze the existence, stability, dynamical formation, and mobility properties of localized solutions in a one-dimensional system described by the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a linear point defect. We consider both attractive and repulsive defects in a focusing lattice. Among our main findings are (a) the destabilization of the on-site mode centered at the defect in the repulsive case, (b) the disappearance of localized modes in the vicinity of the defect due to saddle-node bifurcations for sufficiently strong defects of either type, (c) the decrease of the amplitude formation threshold for attractive and its increase for repulsive defects, and (d) the detailed elucidation as a function of initial speed and defect strength of the different regimes (trapping, trapping and reflection, pure reflection, and pure transmission) of interaction of a moving localized mode with the defect.