Electric-field-induced localization and non-perturbative response of a one-dimensional conductor

Abstract

We consider the non-perturbative non-stationary response of a one-dimensional conductor and the carrier localization induced by an external electric held within the one-electron one-band tight-binding approximation. Exact general analytical expressions for the polarization, electric current and carrier mean square displacement are obtained. We find a new effect of absence of induced polarization in an arbitrary electric field for an electron, initially localized on one site. If the electron wavevector change Delta k during one period of the field is a multiple of 2 pi , the electron is typically delocalized except for the localization in a Bloch state at the bottom of the band and a generalized dynamic localization. If Delta k/2 pi is a non-integer, the electron remains localized. Particular cases of a harmonic field, a sum of constant and harmonic fields and of periodic pulses are also considered for which localization occurs, i.e. suppression of coherent tunnelling.