Localization without recurrence and pseudo-Bloch oscillations in optics

Dynamical localization, i.e. the absence of secular spreading of a quantum or classical wave packet, is usually associated to Hamiltonians with purely point spectrum, i.e. with a normalizable and complete set of eigenstates, which show quasi-periodic dynamics (recurrence). Here we show rather counter-intuitively that dynamical localization can be observed in Hamiltonians with absolutely continuous spectrum, where recurrence effects are forbidden. An optical realization of such an Hamiltonian is proposed based on beam propagation in a self-imaging optical resonator with a phase grating. Localization without recurrence in this system is explained in terms of pseudo-Bloch optical oscillations.