Effect of Hilbert space truncation on Anderson localization

The 1-D Anderson model possesses a completely localized spectrum of eigenstates for all values of the disorder. We consider the effect of projecting the Hamiltonian to a truncated Hilbert space, destroying time reversal symmetry. We analyze the ensuing eigenstates using different measures such as inverse participation ratio and sample-averaged moments of the position operator. In addition, we examine amplitude fluctuations in detail to detect the possibility of multifractal behavior (characteristic of mobility edges) that may arise as a result of the truncation procedure.Comment: 20 pages, 23 figure

Many-body localization in Landau level subbands

We explore the problem of localization in topological and non-topological nearly-flat subbands derived from the lowest Landau level, in the presence of quenched disorder and short-range interactions. We consider two models: a suitably engineered periodic potential, and randomly distributed point-like impurities. We perform numerical exact diagonalization on a torus geometry and use the mean level spacing ratio $\langle r \rangle$ as a diagnostic of ergodicity. For topological subbands, we find there is no ergodicity breaking in both the one and two dimensional thermodynamic limits. For non-topological subbands, in constrast, we find evidence of an ergodicity breaking transition at finite disorder strength in the one-dimensional thermodynamic limit. Intriguingly, indications of similar behavior in the two-dimensional thermodynamic limit are found, as well. This constitutes a novel, $\textit{continuum}$ setting for the study of the many-body localization transition in one and two dimensions

Localization and interactions in topological and non-topological bands in two dimensions

A two-dimensional electron gas in a high magnetic field displays macroscopically degenerate Landau levels, which can be split into Hofstadter subbands by means of a weak periodic potential. By carefully engineering such a potential, one can precisely tune the number, bandwidths, bandgaps and Chern character of these subbands. This allows a detailed study of the interplay of disorder, interaction and topology in two dimensional systems. We first explore the physics of disorder and single-particle localization in subbands derived from the lowest Landau level, that nevertheless may have a topological nature different from that of the entire lowest Landau level. By projecting the Hamiltonian onto subbands of interest, we systematically explore the localization properties of single-particle eigenstates in the presence of quenched disorder. We then introduce electron-electron interactions and investigate the fate of many-body localization in subbands of varying topological character

Beyond universal behavior in the one-dimensional chain with random nearest neighbor hopping

We study the one-dimensional nearest neighbor tight binding model of electrons with independently distributed random hopping and no on-site potential (i.e. off-diagonal disorder with particle-hole symmetry, leading to sub-lattice symmetry, for each realization). For non-singular distributions of the hopping, it is known that the model exhibits a universal, singular behavior of the density of states $\rho(E) \sim 1/|E \ln^3|E||$ and of the localization length $\xi(E) \sim |\ln|E||$, near the band center $E = 0$. (This singular behavior is also applicable to random XY and Heisenberg spin chains; it was first obtained by Dyson for a specific random harmonic oscillator chain). Simultaneously, the state at $E = 0$ shows a universal, sub-exponential decay at large distances $\sim \exp [ -\sqrt{r/r_0} ]$. In this study, we consider singular, but normalizable, distributions of hopping, whose behavior at small $t$ is of the form $\sim 1/ [t \ln^{\lambda+1}(1/t) ]$, characterized by a single, continuously tunable parameter $\lambda > 0$. We find, using a combination of analytic and numerical methods, that while the universal result applies for $\lambda > 2$, it no longer holds in the interval $0 < \lambda < 2$. In particular, we find that the form of the density of states singularity is enhanced (relative to the Dyson result) in a continuous manner depending on the non-universal parameter $\lambda$; simultaneously, the localization length shows a less divergent form at low energies, and ceases to diverge below $\lambda = 1$. For $\lambda < 2$, the fall-off of the $E = 0$ state at large distances also deviates from the universal result, and is of the form $\sim \exp [-(r/r_0)^{1/\lambda}]$, which decays faster than an exponential for $\lambda < 1$.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Structural, optical and nanomechanical properties of (1 1 1) oriented nanocrystalline ZnTe thin films

Structural, optical and nanomechanical properties of nanocrystalline Zinc Telluride (ZnTe) films of thickness upto 10 microns deposited at room temperature on borosilicate glass substrates are reported. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that the films were preferentially oriented along the (1 1 1) direction. The maximum refractive index of the films was 2.74 at a wavelength of 2000 nm. The optical band gap showed strong thickness dependence. The average film hardness and Young’s modulus obtained from loaddisplacement curves and analyzed by Oliver-Pharr method were 4 and 70 GPa respectively. Hardness of (1 1 1) oriented ZnTe thin films exhibited almost 5 times higher value than bulk. The studies show clearly that the hardness increases with decreasing indentation size, for indents between 30 and 300 nm in depth indicating the existence of indentation size effect. The coefficient of friction for these films as obtained from the nanoscratch test was ∼0.4.Financial support in the form of fellowships to MSRNK and SK from the ACRHEM project of DRDO is acknowledged