We consider a system where localized bound electron pairs form an array of
"Andreev"-like scattering centers and are coupled to a fermionic subsystem of
uncorrelated electrons. By means of a path-integral approach, which describes
the bound electron pairs within a coherent pseudospin representation, we derive
and analyze the effective action for the collective phase modes which arise
from the coupling between the two subsystems once the fermionic degrees of
freedom are integrated out. This effective action has features of a quantum
phase model in the presence of a Berry phase term and exhibits a coupling to a
field which describes at the same time the fluctuations of density of the bound
pairs and those of the amplitude of the fermion pairs. Due to the competition
between the local and the hopping induced non-local phase dynamics it is
possible, by tuning the exchange coupling or the density of the bound pairs, to
trigger a transition from a phase ordered superconducting to a phase disordered
insulating state. We discuss the different mechanisms which control this
occurrence and the eventual destruction of phase coherence both in the weak and
strong coupling limit.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PRB (05-Feb04