Random Network Models and Quantum Phase Transitions in Two Dimensions

An overview of the random network model invented by Chalker and Coddington, and its generalizations, is provided. After a short introduction into the physics of the Integer Quantum Hall Effect, which historically has been the motivation for introducing the network model, the percolation model for electrons in spatial dimension 2 in a strong perpendicular magnetic field and a spatially correlated random potential is described. Based on this, the network model is established, using the concepts of percolating probability amplitude and tunneling. Its localization properties and its behavior at the critical point are discussed including a short survey on the statistics of energy levels and wave function amplitudes. Magneto-transport is reviewed with emphasis on some new results on conductance distributions. Generalizations are performed by establishing equivalent Hamiltonians. In particular, the significance of mappings to the Dirac model and the two dimensional Ising model are discussed. A description of renormalization group treatments is given. The classification of two dimensional random systems according to their symmetries is outlined. This provides access to the complete set of quantum phase transitions like the thermal Hall transition and the spin quantum Hall transition in two dimension. The supersymmetric effective field theory for the critical properties of network models is formulated. The network model is extended to higher dimensions including remarks on the chiral metal phase at the surface of a multi-layer quantum Hall system.Comment: 176 pages, final version, references correcte

Exploring Level Statistics from Quantum Chaos to Localization with the Autocorrelation Function of Spectral Determinants

The autocorrelation function of spectral determinants (ASD) is used to characterize the discrete spectrum of a phase coherent quasi- 1- dimensional, disordered wire as a function of its length L in a finite, weak magnetic field. An analytical function is obtained depending only on the dimensionless conductance g= xi/L where xi is the localization length, the scaled frequency x= omega/Delta, where Delta is the average level spacing of the wire, and the global symmetry of the system. A metal- insulator crossover is observed, showing that information on localization is contained in the disorder averaged ASD.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Symmetry Dependence of Localization in Quasi- 1- dimensional Disordered Wires

The crossover in energy level statistics of a quasi-1-dimensional disordered wire as a function of its length L is used, in order to derive its averaged localization length, without magnetic field, in a magnetic field and for moderate spin orbit scattering strength. An analytical function of the magnetic field for the local level spacing is obtained, and found to be in excellent agreement with the magnetic field dependent activation energy, recently measured in low-mobility quasi-one-dimensional wires\cite{khavin}. This formula can be used to extract directly and accurately the localization length from magnetoresistance experiments. In general, the local level spacing is shown to be proportional to the excitation gap of a virtual particle, moving on a compact symmetric space.Comment: 4 pages, 2 Eqs. added, Eperimental Data included in Fig.

Localization Length in Anderson Insulator with Kondo Impurities

The localization length, $\xi$, in a 2--dimensional Anderson insulator depends on the electron spin scattering rate by magnetic impurities, $\tau_s^{-1}$. For antiferromagnetic sign of the exchange, %constant, the time $\tau_s$ is {\em itself a function of $\xi$}, due to the Kondo correlations. We demonstrate that the unitary regime of localization is impossible when the concentration of magnetic impurities, $n_{\tiny M}$, is smaller than a critical value, $n_c$. For $n_{\tiny M}>n_c$, the dependence of $\xi$ on the dimensionless conductance, $g$, is {\em reentrant}, crossing over to unitary, and back to orthogonal behavior upon increasing $g$. Sensitivity of Kondo correlations to a weak {\em parallel} magnetic field results in a giant parallel magnetoresistance.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Disorder-quenched Kondo effect in mesosocopic electronic systems

Nonmagnetic disorder is shown to quench the screening of magnetic moments in metals, the Kondo effect. The probability that a magnetic moment remains free down to zero temperature is found to increase with disorder strength. Experimental consequences for disordered metals are studied. In particular, it is shown that the presence of magnetic impurities with a small Kondo temperature enhances the electron's dephasing rate at low temperatures in comparison to the clean metal case. It is furthermore proven that the width of the distribution of Kondo temperatures remains finite in the thermodynamic (infinite volume) limit due to wave function correlations within an energy interval of order $1/\tau$, where $\tau$ is the elastic scattering time. When time-reversal symmetry is broken either by applying a magnetic field or by increasing the concentration of magnetic impurities, the distribution of Kondo temperatures becomes narrower.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, new results on Kondo effect in quasi-1D wires added, 6 Refs. adde

Unconventional conductance plateau transitions in quantum Hall wires with spatially correlated disorder

Quantum transport properties in quantum Hall wires in the presence of spatially correlated random potential are investigated numerically. It is found that the potential correlation reduces the localization length associated with the edge state, in contrast to the naive expectation that the potential correlation increases it. The effect appears as the sizable shift of quantized conductance plateaus in long wires, where the plateau transitions occur at energies much higher than the Landau band centers. The scale of the shift is of the order of the strength of the random potential and is insensitive to the strength of magnetic fields. Experimental implications are also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Free Magnetic Moments in Disordered Metals

The screening of magnetic moments in metals, the Kondo effect, is found to be quenched with a finite probability in the presence of nonmagnetic disorder. Numerical results for a disordered electron system show that the distribution of Kondo temperatures deviates strongly from the result expected from random matrix theory. A pronounced second peak emerges for small Kondo temperatures, showing that the probability that magnetic moments remain unscreened at low temperatures increases with disorder. Analytical calculations, taking into account correlations between eigenfunction intensities yield a finite width for the distribution in the thermodynamic limit. Experimental consequences for disordered mesoscopic metals are discussed.Comment: RevTex 4.0, 4.3 pages, 4 EPS figures; typos fixed, reference added, final published versio

Nonchiral Edge States at the Chiral Metal Insulator Transition in Disordered Quantum Hall Wires

The quantum phase diagram of disordered wires in a strong magnetic field is studied as a function of wire width and energy. The two-terminal conductance shows zero-temperature discontinuous transitions between exactly integer plateau values and zero. In the vicinity of this transition, the chiral metal-insulator transition (CMIT), states are identified that are superpositions of edge states with opposite chirality. The bulk contribution of such states is found to decrease with increasing wire width. Based on exact diagonalization results for the eigenstates and their participation ratios, we conclude that these states are characteristic for the CMIT, have the appearance of nonchiral edges states, and are thereby distinguishable from other states in the quantum Hall wire, namely, extended edge states, two-dimensionally (2D) localized, quasi-1D localized, and 2D critical states.Comment: replaced with revised versio