Partially asymmetric exclusion models with quenched disorder

We consider the one-dimensional partially asymmetric exclusion process with random hopping rates, in which a fraction of particles (or sites) have a preferential jumping direction against the global drift. In this case, the accumulated distance traveled by the particles, x, scales with the time, t, as x approximately t(1/z), with a dynamical exponent z>0. Using extreme value statistics and an asymptotically exact strong disorder renormalization group method, we exactly calculate z(PW) for particlewise disorder, which is argued to be related as z(SW)=z(PW)/2 for sitewise disorder. In the symmetric case with zero mean drift, the particle diffusion is ultraslow, logarithmic in time.     

What price the spin-statistics theorem?

We examine a number of recent proofs of the spin-statistics theorem. All, of course, get the target result of Bose-Einstein statistics for identical integral spin particles and Fermi-Dirac statistics for identical half-integral spin particles. It is pointed out that these proofs, distinguished by their purported simple and intuitive kinematic character, require assumptions that are outside the realm of standard quantum mechanics. We construct a counterexample to these non-dynamical kinematic ‘proofs’ to emphasize the necessity of a dynamical proof as distinct from a kinematic proof. Sudarshan’s simple non-relativistic dynamical proof is briefly described. Finally, we make clear the price paid for any kinematic ‘proof’.     

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.     

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.     

Dynamical Localization for Unitary Anderson Models

This paper establishes dynamical localization properties of certain families of unitary random operators on the d-dimensional lattice in various regimes. These operators are generalizations of one-dimensional physical models of quantum transport and draw their name from the analogy with the discrete Anderson model of solid state physics. They consist in a product of a deterministic unitary operator and a random unitary operator. The deterministic operator has a band structure, is absolutely continuous and plays the role of the discrete Laplacian. The random operator is diagonal with elements given by i.i.d. random phases distributed according to some absolutely continuous measure and plays the role of the random potential. In dimension one, these operators belong to the family of CMV-matrices in the theory of orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle. We implement the method of Aizenman-Molchanov to prove exponential decay of the fractional moments of the Green function for the unitary Anderson model in the following three regimes: In any dimension, throughout the spectrum at large disorder and near the band edges at arbitrary disorder and, in dimension one, throughout the spectrum at arbitrary disorder. We also prove that exponential decay of fractional moments of the Green function implies dynamical localization, which in turn implies spectral localization. These results complete the analogy with the self-adjoint case where dynamical localization is known to be true in the same three regimes.     

A Model of Wavefunction Collapse in Discrete Space-Time

We give a new argument supporting a gravitational role in quantum collapse. It is demonstrated that the discreteness of space-time, which results from the proper combination of quantum theory and general relativity, may inevitably result in the dynamical collapse of the wave function. Moreover, the minimum size of discrete space-time yields a plausible collapse criterion consistent with experiments. By assuming that the source to collapse the wave function is the inherent random motion of particles described by the wave function, we further propose a concrete model of wavefunction collapse in the discrete space-time. It is shown that the model is consistent with the existing experiments and macroscopic experiences. PACS numbers: 0365B 0460     

Constraints of Cluster Separability and Covariance on Current Operators

Realistic models of hadronic systems should be defined by a dynamical unitary representation of the Poincaré group that is also consistent with cluster properties and a spectral condition. All three of these requirements constrain the structure of the interactions. These conditions can be satisfied in light-front quantum mechanics, maintaining the advantage of having a kinematic subgroup of boosts and translations tangent to a light front. The most straightforward construction of dynamical unitary representations of the Poincaré group due to Bakamjian and Thomas fails to satisfy the cluster condition for more than two particles. Cluster properties can be restored, at significant computational expense, using a recursive method due to Sokolov. In this work we report on an investigation of the size of the corrections needed to restore cluster properties in Bakamjian–Thomas models with a light-front kinematic symmetry. Our results suggest that for models based on nucleon and meson degrees of freedom these corrections are too small to be experimentally observed.     

Anomalous transport in disordered dynamical systems

We consider simple extended dynamical systems with quenched disorder. It is shown that these systems exhibit anomalous transport properties such as the total suppression of chaotic diffusion and anomalous drift. The relation to random walks in random environments, in particular to the Sinai model, explains also the occurrence of ageing in such dynamical systems. Anomalous transport is explained by spectral properties of corresponding propagators and by escape rates in these systems. For special cases we provide a connection to quantum mechanical tight-binding models and Anderson localization. New classes of anomalous transport behavior with clear deviations from the behavior of Sinai type are found for generalizations of these models.     

Elastic wave localization in two-dimensional phononic crystals with one-dimensional random disorder and aperiodicity

The band structures of in-plane elastic waves propagating in two-dimensional phononic crystals with one-dimensional random disorder and aperiodicity are analyzed in this paper. The localization of wave propagation is discussed by introducing the concept of the localization factor, which is calculated by the plane-wave-based transfer-matrix method. By treating the random disorder and aperiodicity as the deviation from the periodicity in a special way, three kinds of aperiodic phononic crystals that have normally distributed random disorder, Thue-Morse and Rudin-Shapiro sequence in one direction and translational symmetry in the other direction are considered and the band structures are characterized using localization factors. Besides, as a special case, we analyze the band gap properties of a periodic planar layered composite containing a periodic array of square inclusions. The transmission coefficients based on eigen-mode matching theory are also calculated and the results show the same behaviors as the localization factor does. In the case of random disorders, the localization degree of the normally distributed random disorder is larger than that of the uniformly distributed random disorder although the eigenstates are both localized no matter what types of random disorders, whereas, for the case of Thue-Morse and Rudin-Shapiro structures, the band structures of Thue-Morse sequence exhibit similarities with the quasi-periodic (Fibonacci) sequence not present in the results of the Rudin-Shapiro sequence.     

Finite-temperature density instability at high landau level occupancy

We study here the onset of charge density wave instabilities in quantum Hall systems at finite temperature for Landau level filling nu>4. Specific emphasis is placed on the role of disorder as well as on an in-plane magnetic field. Beyond some critical value, disorder is observed to suppress the charge density wave melting temperature to zero. In addition, we find that a transition from perpendicular to parallel stripes (relative to the in-plane magnetic field) exists when the electron gas thickness exceeds approximately 60 A. The perpendicular alignment of the stripes is in agreement with the experimental finding that the easy conduction direction is perpendicular to the in-plane field.     

Spectral Analysis of Unitary Band Matrices

 This paper is devoted to the spectral properties of a class of unitary operators with a matrix representation displaying a band structure. Such band matrices appear as monodromy operators in the study of certain quantum dynamical systems. These doubly infinite matrices essentially depend on an infinite sequence of phases which govern their spectral properties. We prove the spectrum is purely singular for random phases and purely absolutely continuous in case they provide the doubly infinite matrix with a periodic structure in the diagonal direction. We also study some properties of the singular spectrum of such matrices considered as infinite in one direction only. Received: 29 April 2002 / Accepted: 7 August 2002 Published online: 20 January 2003 Communicated by B. Simon     

Random Walks and Polymers in the Presence of Quenched Disorder

After a general introduction to the field, we describe some recent results concerning disorder effects on both ‘random walk models’, where the random walk is a dynamical process generated by local transition rules, and on ‘polymer models’, where each random walk trajectory representing the configuration of a polymer chain is associated to a global Boltzmann weight. For random walk models, we explain, on the specific examples of the Sinai model and of the trap model, how disorder induces anomalous diffusion, aging behaviours and Golosov localization, and how these properties can be understood via a strong disorder renormalization approach. For polymer models, we discuss the critical properties of various delocalization transitions involving random polymers. We first summarize some recent progresses in the general theory of random critical points: thermodynamic observables are not self-averaging at criticality whenever disorder is relevant, and this lack of self-averaging is directly related to the probability distribution of pseudo-critical temperatures T _c(i,L) over the ensemble of samples (i) of size L. We describe the results of this analysis for the bidimensional wetting and for the Poland–Scheraga model of DNA denaturation.Conference Proceedings “Mathematics and Physics”, I.H.E.S., France, November 2005     

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.     

Dynamical localization and eigenstate localization in trap models

The one-dimensional random trap model with a power-law distribution of mean sojourn times exhibits a phenomenon of dynamical localization in the case where diffusion is anomalous: the probability to find two independent walkers at the same site, as given by the participation ratio, stays constant and high in a broad domain of intermediate times. This phenomenon is absent in dimensions two and higher. In finite lattices of all dimensions the participation ratio finally equilibrates to a different final value. We numerically investigate two-particle properties in a random trap model in one and in three dimensions, using a method based on spectral decomposition of the transition rate matrix. The method delivers a very effective computational scheme producing numerically exact results for the averages over thermal histories and initial conditions in a given landscape realization. Only a single averaging procedure over disorder realizations is necessary. The behavior of the participation ratio is compared to other measures of localization, as for example to the states’ gyration radius, according to which the dynamically localized states are extended. This means that although the particles are found at the same site with a high probability, the typical distance between them grows. Moreover the final equilibrium state is extended both with respect to its gyration radius and to its Lyapunov exponent. In addition, we show that the phenomenon of dynamical localization is only marginally connected with the spectrum of the transition rate matrix, and is dominated by the properties of its eigenfunctions which differ significantly in dimensions one and three.     

Localization of particles in a two-dimensional random potential

A recently proposed theory of the density response of particles moving in a random potential is applied to two-dimensional systems. The particles are found to be localized for arbitrary small disorder. By decreasing the potential fluctuations we find an abrupt transition from an insulating state to a quasi-conducting state exhibiting exceedingly small values for the inverse susceptibility, the inverse localization length and the excitation gap of the dynamical conductivity.     

Hawking thermal radiation of the dirac particle in spherically symmetric nonstatic space-time

The dynamical properties of Dirac spinor particles in a spherically symmetric nonstatic space-time are studied. The explicit representative of the four-component wave function of Dirac particles is obtained. The Dirac equation can be reduced to the standard form of the wave equation near the event horizon by the proper coordinate transformation. The event horizon location and Hawking radiation temperature are obtained.     

Waves and energy in random elastic guided media through the stochastic wave finite element method

Energy propagation in random viscoelastic media is considered in this Letter. The forced response of uncertain waveguide subject to time harmonic loading is treated. This energy model is based on a spectral approach called the “Stochastic Wave Finite Element” (SWFE) method which is detailed in this Letter. Assuming that the random properties are spatially homogeneous in the media, the SWFE is a hybridization of the deterministic wave finite element and a parametric probabilistic approach. The proposed model is applicable in a wide frequency band with reduced time consumption. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the proposed approach to predict the statistics of kinematic and quadratic variables of guided wave propagation. The results are compared to Monte Carlo simulations.     

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.     

Zero field Wigner crystal

A candidate for the insulating phase of the 2D electron gas, seen in high mobility 2D MOSFETS and heterojunctions, is a Wigner crystal pinned by the incipient disorder. With this in view, we study the effect of collective pinning on the physical properties of the crystal formed in zero external magnetic field. We use an elastic theory to describe to long wavelength modes of the crystal. The disorder is treated using the standard Gaussian variational method. We calculate various physical properties of the system with particular emphasis on their density dependence. We revisit the problem of compressibility in this system and present results for the compressibility obtained via effective capacitance measurements in experiments using bilayers. We present results for the dynamical conductivity, surface acoustic wave anomalies and the power radiated by the crystal through phonon emission at finite temperatures.     

Knudsen Gas in a Finite Random Tube: Transport Diffusion and First Passage Properties

We consider transport diffusion in a stochastic billiard in a random tube which is elongated in the direction of the first coordinate (the tube axis). Inside the random tube, which is stationary and ergodic, non-interacting particles move straight with constant speed. Upon hitting the tube walls, they are reflected randomly, according to the cosine law: the density of the outgoing direction is proportional to the cosine of the angle between this direction and the normal vector. Steady state transport is studied by introducing an open tube segment as follows: We cut out a large finite segment of the tube with segment boundaries perpendicular to the tube axis. Particles which leave this piece through the segment boundaries disappear from the system. Through stationary injection of particles at one boundary of the segment a steady state with non-vanishing stationary particle current is maintained. We prove (i) that in the thermodynamic limit of an infinite open piece the coarse-grained density profile inside the segment is linear, and (ii) that the transport diffusion coefficient obtained from the ratio of stationary current and effective boundary density gradient equals the diffusion coefficient of a tagged particle in an infinite tube. Thus we prove Fick’s law and equality of transport diffusion and self-diffusion coefficients for quite generic rough (random) tubes. We also study some properties of the crossing time and compute the Milne extrapolation length in dependence on the shape of the random tube.