Abstract
We present results on the low-frequency dynamical and transport properties of random quantum systems whose low temperature (T), low-energy behavior is controlled by strong-disorder fixed points. We obtain the momentum- and frequency-dependent dynamic structure factor in the random singlet (RS) phases of both spin-l/2 and spin-1 random antiferromagnetic chains, as well as in the random dimer and Ising antiferromagnetic phases of spin-l/2 random antiferromagnetic chains. We show that the RS phases are unusual "spin metals" with divergent low-frequency spin conductivity at T≈0, and we also follow the conductivity through "metal-insulator" transitions tuned by the strength of dimerization or Ising anisotropy in the spin-1/2 case, and by the strength of disorder in the spin-1 case. We work out the average spin and energy autocorrelations in the one-dimensional random transverse-field Ising model in the vicinity of its quantum critical point. All of the above calculations are valid in the frequency-dominated regime ω≳T, and rely on previously available renormalization group schemes that describe these systems in terms of the properties of certain strong-disorder fixed-point theories. In addition, we obtain some information about the behavior of the dynamic structure factor and dynamical conductivity in the opposite "hydrodynamic" regime ω<T for the special case of spin-l/2 chains close to the planar limit (the quantum x-y model) by analyzing the corresponding quantities in an equivalent model of spinless fermions with weak repulsive interactions and particle-hole symmetric disorder.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 134424 |
Pages (from-to) | 1344241-13442429 |
Number of pages | 12098189 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 13 |
State | Published - 2001 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics