Eur. Phys. J. B (2014) 87: 156
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2014-50214-2

Regular Article

Dynamical localization and eigenstate localization in trap models

Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12489 Berlin, Germany

^a e-mail: flegel@physik.hu-berlin.de
^b e-mail: sokolov@physik.hu-berlin.de

Received: 27 March 2014
Received in final form: 3 June 2014
Published online: 16 July 2014

Abstract

The one-dimensional random trap model with a power-law distribution of mean sojourn times exhibits a phenomenon of dynamical localization in the case where diffusion is anomalous: the probability to find two independent walkers at the same site, as given by the participation ratio, stays constant and high in a broad domain of intermediate times. This phenomenon is absent in dimensions two and higher. In finite lattices of all dimensions the participation ratio finally equilibrates to a different final value. We numerically investigate two-particle properties in a random trap model in one and in three dimensions, using a method based on spectral decomposition of the transition rate matrix. The method delivers a very effective computational scheme producing numerically exact results for the averages over thermal histories and initial conditions in a given landscape realization. Only a single averaging procedure over disorder realizations is necessary. The behavior of the participation ratio is compared to other measures of localization, as for example to the states’ gyration radius, according to which the dynamically localized states are extended. This means that although the particles are found at the same site with a high probability, the typical distance between them grows. Moreover the final equilibrium state is extended both with respect to its gyration radius and to its Lyapunov exponent. In addition, we show that the phenomenon of dynamical localization is only marginally connected with the spectrum of the transition rate matrix, and is dominated by the properties of its eigenfunctions which differ significantly in dimensions one and three.