Finite-Volume Fractional-Moment Criteria¶for Anderson Localization

A technically convenient signature of localization, exhibited by discrete operators with random potentials, is exponential decay of the fractional moments of the Green function within the appropriate energy ranges. Known implications include: spectral localization, absence of level repulsion, strong form of dynamical localization, and a related condition which plays a significant role in the quantization of the Hall conductance in two-dimensional Fermi gases. We present a family of finite-volume criteria which, under some mild restrictions on the distribution of the potential, cover the regime where the fractional moment decay condition holds. The constructive criteria permit to establish this condition at spectral band edges, provided there are sufficient “Lifshitz tail estimates” on the density of states. They are also used here to conclude that the fractional moment condition, and thus the other manifestations of localization, are valid throughout the regime covered by the “multiscale analysis”. In the converse direction, the analysis rules out fast power-law decay of the Green functions at mobility edges. Received: 21 October 1999 / Accepted: 31 March 2000 / Revised: 30 August 2001     

Localization Bounds for Multiparticle Systems

We consider the spectral and dynamical properties of quantum systems of n particles on the lattice \({\mathbb{Z}^d}\) , of arbitrary dimension, with a Hamiltonian which in addition to the kinetic term includes a random potential with iid values at the lattice sites and a finite-range interaction. Two basic parameters of the model are the strength of the disorder and the strength of the interparticle interaction. It is established here that for all n there are regimes of high disorder, and/or weak enough interactions, for which the system exhibits spectral and dynamical localization. The localization is expressed through bounds on the transition amplitudes, which are uniform in time and decay exponentially in the Hausdorff distance in the configuration space. The results are derived through the analysis of fractional moments of the n-particle Green function, and related bounds on the eigenfunction correlators.     

New Characterizations of the Region of Complete Localization for Random Schrödinger Operators

We study the region of complete localization in a class of random operators which includes random Schrödinger operators with Anderson-type potentials and classical wave operators in random media, as well as the Anderson tight-binding model. We establish new characterizations or criteria for this region of complete localization, given either by the decay of eigenfunction correlations or by the decay of Fermi projections. (These are necessary and sufficient conditions for the random operator to exhibit complete localization in this energy region.) Using the first type of characterization we prove that in the region of complete localization the random operator has eigenvalues with finite multiplicity.     

Constructive proof of localization in the Anderson tight binding model

We prove that, for large disorder or near the band tails, the spectrum of the Anderson tight binding Hamiltonian with diagonal disorder consists exclusively of discrete eigenvalues. The corresponding eigenfunctions are exponentially well localized. These results hold in arbitrary dimension and with probability one. In one dimension, we recover the result that all states are localized for arbitrary energies and arbitrarily small disorder. Our techniques extend to other physical systems which exhibit localization phenomena, such as infinite systems of coupled harmonic oscillators, or random Schrödinger operators in the continuum.Work supported in part by National Science Foundations grant MCS-8108814 (A03).Work supported in part by National Science Foundation grant DMR 81-00417.     

Lifshitz Tails for a Class of Schrödinger Operators with Random Breather-Type Potential

We derive bounds on the integrated density of states for a class of Schrödinger operators with a random potential. The potential depends on a sequence of random variables, not necessarily in a linear way. An example of such a random Schrödinger operator is the breather model, as introduced by Combes, Hislop and Mourre. For these models, we show that the integrated density of states near the bottom of the spectrum behaves according to the so called Lifshitz asymptotics. This result can be used to prove Anderson localization in certain energy/disorder regimes.     

Anderson Localization in Dissipative Lattices

Anderson localization predicts that wave spreading in disordered lattices can come to a complete halt, providing a universal mechanism for dynamical localization. In the one-dimensional Hermitian Anderson model with uncorrelated diagonal disorder, there is a one-to-one correspondence between dynamical localization and spectral localization, that is, the exponential localization of all the Hamiltonian eigenfunctions. This correspondence can be broken when dealing with disordered dissipative lattices. When the system exchanges particles with the surrounding environment and random fluctuations of the dissipation are introduced, spectral localization is observed but without dynamical localization. Previous studies consider lattices with mixed conservative (Hamiltonian) and dissipative dynamics and are restricted to a semiclassical analysis. However, Anderson localization in purely dissipative lattices, displaying an entirely Lindbladian dynamics, remains largely unexplored. Here the purely-dissipative Anderson model in the framework of a Lindblad master equation is considered, and it is shown that, akin to the semiclassical models with conservative hopping and random dissipation, one observes dynamical delocalization in spite of strong spectral localization of the Liouvillian superoperator. This result is very distinct from delocalization observed in the Anderson model with dephasing, where dynamical delocalization arises from the delocalization of the stationary state of the Liouvillian.     

Eigenvalue Statistics for Lattice Hamiltonian with Off-diagonal Disorder

This short note deals with a certain kind of lattice Hamiltonian with off-diagonal disorder. Based on the exponential decay of the fractional moment of the Green function, we are able to prove that the properly rescaled eigenvalues of the random Hamiltonian are distributed as a Poisson point process with intensity measure given by the density of states. One of the key step in this proof is the Minami-type estimate. As a crucial ingredient, we also use the Minami-type estimate to study some important properties of the random Hamiltonian, such as multiplicity of the eigenvalues and quantitative estimate of the localization centers.     

Dynamical Localization in Disordered Quantum Spin Systems

We say that a quantum spin system is dynamically localized if the time-evolution of local observables satisfies a zero-velocity Lieb-Robinson bound. In terms of this definition we have the following main results: First, for general systems with short range interactions, dynamical localization implies exponential decay of ground state correlations, up to an explicit correction. Second, the dynamical localization of random xy spin chains can be reduced to dynamical localization of an effective one-particle Hamiltonian. In particular, the isotropic xy chain in random exterior magnetic field is dynamically localized.     

Localization of elastic waves in randomly disordered multi-coupled multi-span beams

The wave localization in randomly disordered periodic multi-span continuous beams is studied. The transfer matrix method is used to deduce transfer matrices of two kinds of multi-span beams. To calculate the Lyapunov exponents in discrete dynamical systems, the algorithm for determining all the Lyapunov exponents in continuous dynamical systems presented by Wolf et al is employed. The smallest positive Lyapunov exponent of the corresponding discrete dynamical system is called the localization factor, which characterizes the average exponential rates of growth or decay of wave amplitudes along the randomly mistuned multi-span beams. For two kinds of disordered periodic multi-span beams, numerical results of localization factors are given. The effects of the disorder of span-length, the non-dimensional torsional spring stiffness and the non-dimensional linear spring stiffness on the wave localization are analysed and discussed. It can be observed that the localization factors increase with the increase of the coefficient of variation of random span-length and the degree of localization for wave amplitudes increases as the torsional spring stiffness and the linear spring stiffness increase.     

Quantum scaling laws in the onset of dynamical delocalization

We study the destruction of dynamical localization experimentally observed in an atomic realization of the kicked rotor by a deterministic Hamiltonian perturbation, with a temporal periodicity incommensurate with the principal driving. We show that the destruction is gradual, with well-defined scaling laws for the various classical and quantum parameters, in sharp contrast to predictions based on the analogy with Anderson localization.     

Localization for Random Unitary Operators

We consider unitary analogs of one-dimensional Anderson models on defined by the product U _ω=D _ω S where S is a deterministic unitary and D _ω is a diagonal matrix of i.i.d. random phases. The operator S is an absolutely continuous band matrix which depends on a parameter controlling the size of its off-diagonal elements. We prove that the spectrum of U _ω is pure point almost surely for all values of the parameter of S. We provide similar results for unitary operators defined on together with an application to orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle. We get almost sure localization for polynomials characterized by Verblunsky coefficients of constant modulus and correlated random phases Mathematics Subject Classification. 82B44, 42C05, 81Q05     

Localization of elastic waves in randomly disordered multi-coupled multi-span beams

Abstract

The wave localization in randomly disordered periodic multi-span continuous beams is studied. The transfer matrix method is used to deduce transfer matrices of two kinds of multi-span beams. To calculate the Lyapunov exponents in discrete dynamical systems, the algorithm for determining all the Lyapunov exponents in continuous dynamical systems presented by Wolf et al is employed. The smallest positive Lyapunov exponent of the corresponding discrete dynamical system is called the localization factor, which characterizes the average exponential rates of growth or decay of wave amplitudes along the randomly mistuned multi-span beams. For two kinds of disordered periodic multi-span beams, numerical results of localization factors are given. The effects of the disorder of span-length, the non-dimensional torsional spring stiffness and the non-dimensional linear spring stiffness on the wave localization are analysed and discussed. It can be observed that the localization factors increase with the increase of the coefficient of variation of random span-length and the degree of localization for wave amplitudes increases as the torsional spring stiffness and the linear spring stiffness increase.     

Direct Scaling Analysis of Localization in Single-Particle Quantum Systems on Graphs with Diagonal Disorder

We propose a simplified version of the Multi-Scale Analysis of Anderson models on a lattice and, more generally, on a countable graph with polynomially bounded growth of balls, with diagonal disorder represented by an IID or strongly mixing correlated potential. We apply the new scaling procedure to discrete Schr?dinger operators and obtain localization bounds on eigenfunctions and eigenfunction correlators in arbitrarily large finite subsets of the graph which imply the spectral and strong dynamical localization in the entire graph.     

Critical fidelity at the metal-insulator transition

Using a Wigner Lorentzian random matrix ensemble, we study the fidelity, F(t), of systems at the Anderson metal-insulator transition, subject to small perturbations that preserve the criticality. We find that there are three decay regimes as perturbation strength increases: the first two are associated with a Gaussian and an exponential decay, respectively, and can be described using linear response theory. For stronger perturbations F(t) decays algebraically as F(t) approximately t(-D2(mu)), where D2(mu) is the correlation dimension of the local density of states.     

Calculation of anomalous dimensions for the nonlinear sigma model

The relevant scaling operators without derivatives for the orthogonal, unitary and symplectic nonlinear σ-model are classified and their anomalous dimensions are calculated up to three-loop order. The exponents for the participation ratio and for higher averaged moments of the wave functions for Anderson localization are obtained. For nonmagnetic scattering the two-loop and three-loop term vanishes.     

Localization Criteria for Anderson Models on Locally Finite Graphs

We prove spectral and dynamical localization for Anderson models on locally finite graphs using the fractional moment method. Our theorems extend earlier results on localization for the Anderson model on ℤ ^d . We establish geometric assumptions for the underlying graph such that localization can be proven in the case of sufficiently large disorder.     

Fractional Moment Estimates for Random Unitary Operators

We consider unitary analogs of d-dimensional Anderson models on l²( $$\mathbb(z)$$^d) defined by the product U=D S where S is a deterministic unitary and D is a diagonal matrix of i.i.d. random phases. The operator S is an absolutely continuous band matrix which depends on parameters controlling the size of its off-diagonal elements. We adapt the method of Aizenman–Molchanov to get exponential estimates on fractional moments of the matrix elements of U(U –z)^–1, provided the distribution of phases is absolutely continuous and the parameters correspond to small off-diagonal elements of S. Such estimates imply almost sure localization for U.     

Monte Carlo simulation in the theory of wave propagation in random media: II. Scintillation index, second and fourth moments

The purpose of this article (comprising parts I and II) is to develop and test the approach of combining a path-integral technique and a complex-valued Monte Carlo method to calculate the highest moments of the Green function of the stochastic wave equation for media with random small-scale inhomogeneities against the background of large-scale inhomogeneities. In part II calculations of the second and fourth moments of the Green function and the scintillation index have been performed for 1D and 2D cases in the framework of three models: a model of the stochastic wave equation and models of parabolic and Markov approximations. The finiteness of the correlation radius of inhomogeneities has been shown to be the reason for the significant difference between the Markov approximation and the other two. The results obtained prove that the applicability of the parabolic approximation (without the Markov approximation) is much wider than might be expected. A comparison has been made showing good agreement with reliable results for 1D media. The Monte Carlo results have exhibited the singularities existing at the localization centres and forming exponential decay of the second moment from distances of about one wavelength. The unexpected sharp oscillations interrupting the exponential decay of the Green function moments have been obtained at distances from the localization centre of several tens of times the average distance between scatterers. The effect of weak large-scale inhomogeneities on the behaviour of the second moment has also been investigated.     

Localization of Classical Waves II: Electromagnetic Waves

We consider electromagnetic waves in a medium described by a position dependent dielectric constant . We assume that is a random perturbation of a periodic function and that the periodic Maxwell operator has a gap in the spectrum, where . We prove the existence of localized waves, i.e., finite energy solutions of Maxwell's equations with the property that almost all of the wave's energy remains in a fixed bounded region of space at all times. Localization of electromagnetic waves is a consequence of Anderson localization for the self-adjoint operators . We prove that, in the random medium described by , the random operator exhibits Anderson localization inside the gap in the spectrum of . This is shown even in situations when the gap is totally filled by the spectrum of the random operator; we can prescribe random environments that ensure localization in almost the whole gap. Received: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 15 August 1996     

Anderson localization for Bernoulli and other singular potentials

We prove exponential localization in the Anderson model under very weak assumptions on the potential distribution. In one dimension we allow any measure which is not concentrated on a single point and possesses some finite moment. In particular this solves the longstanding problem of localization for Bernoulli potentials (i.e., potentials that take only two values). In dimensions greater than one we prove localization at high disorder for potentials with Hölder continuous distributions and for bounded potentials whose distribution is a convex combination of a Hölder continuous distribution with high disorder and an arbitrary distribution. These include potentials with singular distributions.We also show that for certain Bernoulli potentials in one dimension the integrated density of states has a nontrivial singular component.Partially supported by NSF grant DMS 85-03695Partially supported by NSF grant DMS 83-01889Partially supported by G.N.F.M. C.N.R.