Quantum Monte Carlo simulations of a particle in a random potential

DOI10.1088/0305-4470/30/6/008zbMATH Open0934.82030arXivcond-mat/9612208OpenAlexW2022751473MaRDI QIDQ4248438

Publication date: 13 April 2000

Published in: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In this paper we carry out Quantum Monte Carlo simulations of a quantum particle in a one-dimensional random potential (plus a fixed harmonic potential) at a finite temperature. This is the simplest model of an interface in a disordered medium and may also pertain to an electron in a dirty metal. We compare with previous analytical results, and also derive an expression for the sample to sample fluctuations of the mean square displacement from the origin which is a measure of the glassiness of the system. This quantity as well as the mean square displacement of the particle are measured in the simulation. The similarity to the quantum spin glass in a transverse field is noted. The effect of quantum fluctuations on the glassy behavior is discussed.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/9612208

zbMATH Keywords

quantum fluctuations quantum particle glassy behaviour

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Disordered systems (random Ising models, random Schrödinger operators, etc.) in equilibrium statistical mechanics (82B44) Statistical mechanics of random media, disordered materials (including liquid crystals and spin glasses) (82D30) Quantum equilibrium statistical mechanics (general) (82B10)