Interaction instability of localization in quasiperiodic systems

Žnidarič, Marko (author), Ljubotina, Marko (author)

Integrable models form pillars of theoretical physics because they allow for full analytical understanding. Despite being rare, many realistic systems can be described by models that are close to integrable. Therefore, an important question is how small perturbations influence the behavior of solvable models. This is particularly true for many-body interacting quantum systems where no general theorems about their stability are known. Here, we show that no such theorem can exist by providing an explicit example of a one-dimensional many-body system in a quasiperiodic potential whose transport properties discontinuously change from localization to diffusion upon switching on interaction. This demonstrates an inherent instability of a possible many-body localization in a quasiperiodic potential at small interactions. We also show how the transport properties can be strongly modified by engineering potential at only a few lattice sites.

• Language: English
• Keywords: condensed matter physics, quantum mechanics, many-body localization, transport, quasiperiodic systems
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Author Accepted Manuscript
• Year: 2018
• Number of pages: Str. 4595-4600
• Numbering: Vol. 115, no. 18
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-101293
• UDC: 538.9:530.145
• ISSN on article: 0027-8424
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1800589115
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3201636
• Publication date in RUL: 22.05.2018

ŽNIDARIČ, Marko and LJUBOTINA, Marko, 2018, Interaction instability of localization in quasiperiodic systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America [online]. 2018. Vol. 115, no. 18, p. 4595–4600. [Accessed 23 June 2025]. DOI 10.1073/pnas.1800589115. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=101293

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• Shortened title: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.
• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• COBISS.SI-ID: 286487

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: fizika kondenzirane snovi, kvantna mehanika, večdelčne lokalizacije, transport, kvaziperiodični sistemi

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: H2020
• Project number: 694544
• Name: Open many-body non-equilibrium systems
• Acronym: OMNES