Critical Conductance Distribution Research Articles

Universality classes of the Anderson transitions driven by quasiperiodic potential in the three-dimensional Wigner-Dyson symmetry classes

Quasiperiodic system is an intermediate state between periodic and disordered systems with unique delocalization-localization transition driven by the quasiperiodic potential (QP). One of the intriguing questions is whether the universality class of the Anderson transition (AT) driven by QP is similar to that of the AT driven by the random potential in the same symmetry class. Here, we study the critical behavior of the ATs driven by QP in the three-dimensional (3D) Anderson model, Peierls phase model, and Ando model, which belong to the Wigner-Dyson symmetry classes. The localization length and two-terminal conductance have been calculated by the transfer matrix method, and we argue that their error estimations in statistics suffer from the correlation of QP. With the correlation under control, the critical exponents $\nu$ of the ATs driven by QP are estimated by the finite size scaling analysis of conductance, which are consistent with $\nu$'s of the ATs driven by the random potential. Moreover, the critical conductance distribution and the level spacing ratio distribution have been studied. We also find that a convolutional neural network trained by the localized/delocalized wavefunctions in a disordered system predicts the localized/delocalized wavefunctions in quasiperiodic systems. Our numerical results strongly support that the universality classes of the ATs driven by QP and random potential are similar in the 3D Wigner-Dyson symmetry classes.

Unconventional scaling theory in disorder-driven quantum phase transition

We clarify novel forms of scaling functions of conductance, critical conductance distribution and localization length in a disorder-driven quantum phase transition between band insulator and Weyl semimetal phases. Quantum criticality of the phase transition is controlled by a clean-limit fixed point with spatially anisotropic scale invariance. We argue that the anisotropic scale invariance is reflected on unconventional scaling function forms in the quantum phase transition. We verify the proposed scaling function forms in terms of transfer-matrix calculations of conductance and localization length in a tight-binding model.

Quantum multicriticality in disordered Weyl semimetals

In electronic band structure of solid state material, two band touching points with linear dispersion appear in pair in the momentum space. When they annihilate with each other, the system undergoes a quantum phase transition from three-dimensional Weyl semimetal (WSM) phase to a band insulator phase such as Chern band insulator (CI) phase. The phase transition is described by a new critical theory with a `magnetic dipole' like object in the momentum space. In this paper, we reveal that the critical theory hosts a novel disorder-driven quantum multicritical point, which is encompassed by three quantum phases, renormalized WSM phase, CI phase, and diffusive metal (DM) phase. Based on the renormalization group argument, we first clarify scaling properties around the band touching points at the quantum multicritical point as well as all phase boundaries among these three phases. Based on numerical calculations of localization length, density of states and critical conductance distribution, we next prove that a localization-delocalization transition between the CI phase with a finite zero-energy density of states (zDOS) and DM phase belongs to an ordinary 3D unitary class. Meanwhile, a localization-delocalization transition between the Chern insulator phase with zero zDOS and a renormalized Weyl semimetal (WSM) phase turns out to be a direct phase transition whose critical exponent $\nu=0.80\pm 0.01$. We interpret these numerical results by a renormalization group analysis on the critical theory.

Integer quantum magnon Hall plateau-plateau transition in a spin-ice model

Low-energy magnon bands in a two-dimensional spin ice model become integer quantum magnon Hall bands. By calculating the localization length and the two-terminal conductance of magnon transport, we show that the magnon bands with disorders undergo a quantum phase transition from an integer quantum magnon Hall regime to a conventional magnon localized regime. Finite size scaling analysis as well as a critical conductance distribution shows that the quantum critical point belongs to the same universality class as that in the quantum Hall transition. We characterize thermal magnon Hall conductivity in disordered quantum magnon Hall system in terms of robust chiral edge magnon transport.

Conductance distributions in disordered quantum spin-Hall systems

We study numerically the charge conductance distributions of disordered quantum spin-Hall (QSH) systems using a quantum network model. We have found that the conductance distribution at the metal-QSH insulator transition is clearly different from that at the metal-ordinary insulator transition. Thus the critical conductance distribution is sensitive not only to the boundary condition but also to the presence of edge states in the adjacent insulating phase. We have also calculated the point-contact conductance. Even when the two-terminal conductance is approximately quantized, we find large fluctuations in the point-contact conductance. Furthermore, we have found a semi-circular relation between the average of the point-contact conductance and its fluctuation.

Critical conductance distribution in various dimensions

We study numerically the metal-insulator transition in the Anderson model on various lattices with dimension $2<d<~4$ (bifractals and Euclidean lattices). The critical exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}$ and the critical conductance distribution are calculated. We confirm that $\ensuremath{\nu}$ depends only on the spectral dimension. The other parameters---critical disorder, critical conductance distribution, and conductance cumulants---depend also on lattice topology. Thus only qualitative comparison with theoretical formulas for the dimension dependence of the cumulants is possible.

Boundary conditions, the critical conductance distribution, and one-parameter scaling

We study the influence of boundary conditions transverse to the transport direction for disordered mesoscopic conductors both at the Anderson metal-insulator transition and in the metallic regime. We show that the boundary conditions strongly influence the conductance distribution exactly at the metal-insulator transition and we discuss implications for the standard picture of one-parameter scaling. We show in particular that the scaling function that describes the change of conductance with system size depends on the boundary conditions from the metallic regime up to the metal-insulator transition. An experiment is proposed that might test the correctness of the one-parameter scaling theory.

Localization transition in multilayered disordered systems

The Anderson delocalization-localization transition is studied in multilayered systems with randomly placed interlayer bonds of density $p$ and strength $t$. In the absence of diagonal disorder (W=0), following an appropriate perturbation expansion, we estimate the mean free paths in the main directions and verify by scaling of the conductance that the states remain extended for any finite $p$, despite the interlayer disorder. In the presence of additional diagonal disorder ($W > 0$) we obtain an Anderson transition with critical disorder $W_c$ and localization length exponent $\nu$ independently of the direction. The critical conductance distribution $P_{c}(g)$ varies, however, for the parallel and the perpendicular directions. The results are discussed in connection to disordered anisotropic materials.

Numerical verification of universality for the Anderson transition

We analyze the scaling behavior of the higher Lyapunov exponents at the Anderson transition. We estimate the critical exponent and verify its universality and that of the critical conductance distribution for box, Gaussian and Lorentzian distributions of the random potential.

Topology dependent quantities at the anderson transition

The boundary condition dependence of the critical behavior for the three dimensional Anderson transition is investigated. A strong dependence of the scaling function and the critical conductance distribution on the boundary conditions is found, while the critical disorder and critical exponent are found to be independent of the boundary conditions.

Localization length exponent, critical conductance distribution and multifractality in hierarchical network models for the quantum hall effect

We study hierarchical network models which have recently been introduced to approximate the Chalker-Coddington model for the integer quantum Hall effect (A.G. Galstyan and M.E. Raikh, PRB 56 1422 (1997); Arovas et al., PRB 56, 4751 (1997)). The hierarchical structure is due to a recursive method starting from a finite elementary cell. The localization-delocalization transition occurring in these models is displayed in the flow of the conductance distribution under increasing system size. We numerically determine this flow, calculate the critical conductance distribution, the critical exponent of the localization length, and the multifractal exponents of critical eigenstates.

Localization length exponent, critical conductance distribution and multifractality in hierarchical network models for the quantum Hall effect

AbstractWe study hierarchical network models which have recently been introduced to approximate the Chalker‐Coddington model for the integer quantum Hall effect (A.G. Galstyan and M.E. Raikh, PRB 5 (1997) 1422; Arovas et al., PRB 56 (1997) 4751). The hierarchical structure is due to a recursive method starting from a finite elementary cell. The localization‐delocalization transition occurring in these models is displayed in the flow of the conductance distribution under increasing system size. We numerically determine this flow, calculate the critical conductance distribution, the critical exponent of the localization length, and the multifractal exponents of critical eigenstates.

The Anderson Transition: Time Reversal Symmetry and Universality

We report a finite size scaling study of the Anderson transition. Different scaling functions and different values for the critical exponent have been found, consistent with the existence of the orthogonal and unitary universality classes which occur in the field theory description of the transition. The critical conductance distribution at the Anderson transition has also been investigated and different distributions for the orthogonal and unitary classes obtained.