MODELING DISORDERED QUANTUM SYSTEMS WITH DYNAMICAL NETWORKS

Abstract

It is the purpose of the present article to show that so-called network models, originally designed to describe static properties of disordered electronic systems, can be easily generalized to quantum-dynamical models, which then allow for an investigation of dynamical and spectral aspects. This concept is exemplified by the Chalker–Coddington model for the quantum Hall effect and a three-dimensional generalization of it. We simulate phase coherent diffusion of wave packets and consider spatial and spectral correlations of network eigenstates as well as the distribution of (quasi-)energy levels. Apart from that, it is demonstrated how network models can be used to determine two-point conductances. Our numerical calculations for the three-dimensional model at the Metal-Insulator transition point delivers, among others, an anomalous diffusion exponent of η=3-D 2 =1.7±0.1. The methods presented here in detail have been used partially in earlier work.