Many-body localization transition in a frustrated XY chain

Abstract

We show evidence of many-body localization (MBL) transition in a one-dimensional isotropic XY chain with a weak next-nearest-neighbor frustration in a random magnetic field. We perform finite-size exact diagonalization calculations of level-spacing statistics and fractal dimensions to characterize the MBL transition with increasing the random field amplitude. An equivalent representation of the model in terms of spinless fermions explains the presence of the delocalized phase by the appearance of an effective nonlocal interaction between the fermions. This interaction appears due to frustration provided by the next-nearest-neighbor hopping.