A number of basic scientific questions relating to ion conduction in homogeneously disordered solids are discussed. The questions deal with how to define the mobile ion density, what can be learned from electrode effects, what is the ion transport mechanism, the role of dimensionality, and what are the origins of the mixed-alkali effect, of time-temperature superposition, and of the nearly-constant loss. Answers are suggested to some of these questions, but the main purpose of the paper is to draw attention to the fact that this field of research still presents several fundamental challenges.
We report some basic results regarding transport in disordered reaction-diffusion systems with birth (A->2A), death (A->0), and binary competition (2A->A) processes. We consider a model in which the growth process is only allowed to take place in certain areas--"oases"--while the rest of space--the "desert"--is hostile to growth. In the limit of low oasis density, transport is mediated through rare "hopping" events, necessitating the inclusion of discreteness effects in the model. By first considering transport between two oases, we are able to derive an approximate expression for the average …
1. Introduction 2. Molecular dynamics simulation of amorphous carbon structures 3. Atomistic simulation of the bombardment process during the BEN phase of diamond CVD 4. Growth of amorphous silicon 5. One-dimensional hopping in disordered organic solids
Anisotropic disordered system are studied in this work within the random barrier model. In such systems the transition probabilities in different directions have different probability density functions. The frequency-dependent conductivity at low temperatures is obtained using an effective medium approximation. It is shown that the isotropic universal ac-conduction law, $σ\ln σ=u$, is recovered if properly scaled conductivity ($σ$) and frequency ($u$) variables are used.
In the present communication we consider the one-dimensional (1D) isotopically disordered lattice with the harmonic potential. Our analytical method is adequate for any 1D lattice where potential energy can be presented as the quadratic form $U=\frac12 \sum_{i,j} q(i) U_{ij} q(j)$, where $q(i)$ -- coordinate or velocity of $i$-th particle. There are derived the closed system of equations for the temporal behavior of the correlation functions. The final expressions allow to calculate the kinetics and dynamics of the system -- energy, temperature profile, thermal conduction and others. There is …
A general formulation is developed to study heat conduction in disordered harmonic chains with arbitrary heat baths that satisfy the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. A simple formal expression for the heat current J is obtained, from which its asymptotic system-size (N) dependence is extracted. It is shown that the ``thermal conductivity'' depends not just on the system itself but also on the spectral properties of the fluctuation and noise used to model the heat baths. As special cases of our heat baths we recover earlier results which reported that for fixed boundaries $J \sim 1/N^{3/2}$, wh…
We address the question of the effect of disorder on heat conduction in an anharmonic chain with interactions given by the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) potential. In contrast to the conclusions of an earlier paper [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 63 (2001)] which found that disorder could induce a finite thermal conductivity at low temperatures, we find no evidence of a finite temperature transition in conducting properties. Instead, we find that at low temperatures, small system size transport properties are dominated by disorder but the asymptotic system size dependence of current is given by the usual FPU r…
Recent scaling results for the AC conductivity of ionic glasses by Roling et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. vol 78, 2160 (1997)] and Sidebottom [Phys. Rev. Lett. vol 82, 3653 (1999)] are discussed. It is shown that Sidebottom's version of scaling is completely general. A new analytical approximation to the universal AC conductivity of hopping in the extreme disorder limit, the ``diffusion cluster approximation,'' is presented and compared to simulations and experiments.
We investigate the steady state heat current in two and three dimensional isotopically disordered harmonic lattices. Using localization theory as well as kinetic theory we estimate the system size dependence of the current. These estimates are compared with numerical results obtained using an exact formula for the current given in terms of a phonon transmission function, as well as by direct nonequilibrium simulations. We find that heat conduction by high-frequency modes is suppressed by localization while low-frequency modes are strongly affected by boundary conditions. Our {\color{black}heur…
The low-energy spectrum of graphene nanoribbons with armchair edges (armchair nanoribbons) is described as the superposition of two non-equivalent Dirac points of graphene. In spite of the lack of well-separated two valley structures, the single-channel transport subjected to long-ranged impurities is nearly perfectly conducting, where the backward scattering matrix elements in the lowest order vanish as a manifestation of internal phase structures of the wavefunction. For multi-channel energy regime, however, the conventional exponential decay of the averaged conductance occurs. Since the int…
In a recent paper [Phys. Rev. B{\bf57}, 3375 (1998)], we examined in detail the nonlinear (electrical) dc response of a random resistor cum tunneling bond network ($RRTN$, introduced by us elsewhere to explain nonlinear response of metal-insulator type mixtures). In this work which is a sequel to that paper, we consider the ac response of the $RRTN$-based correlated $RC$ ($CRC$) model. Numerical solutions of the Kirchoff's laws for the $CRC$ model give a power-law exponent (= 0.7 near $p = p_c$) of the modulus of the complex ac conductance at moderately low frequencies, in conformity with expe…
Short-range order in strongly disordered structures plays an important role in their heat conduction property. Using numerical and analytical methods, we show that short-range spatial correlation (with a correlation length of $Λ_{m}$) in the mass distribution of the one-dimensional (1D) alloy-like random binary lattice leads to a dramatic enhancement of the high-frequency phonon transmittance but also increases the low-frequency phonon opacity. High-frequency semi-extended states are formed while low-frequency modes become more localized. This results in ballistic heat conduction at finite len…
In this article we present numerical results of conduction in a disordered quasi-1D wire in the possible presence of magnetic impurities. Our analysis leads us to the study of universal properties in different conduction regimes such as the localized and metallic ones. In particular, we analyse the cross-over between universality classes occurring when the strength of magnetic disorder is increased. For this purpose, we use a numerical Landauer approach, and derive the scattering matrix of the wire from electron's Green's function.
This paper is concerned with the connection between the properties of dielectric relaxation and ac (alternating-current) conduction in disordered dielectrics. The discussion is divided between the classical linear-response theory and a self-consistent dynamical modeling. The key issues are, stretched exponential character of dielectric relaxation, power-law power spectral density, and anomalous dependence of ac conduction coefficient on frequency. We propose a self-consistent model of dielectric relaxation, in which the relaxations are described by a stretched exponential decay function. Mathe…
A novel Einstein relation (fractional Einstein relation, FER) for the electric conduction in non-crystalline semiconductors is presented. FER and the generalized Einstein relation (GER) [Phys. Rev. E 8, 1296 (1998)] are compared to the result of the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, and is confirmed that FER exhibits better agreement than GER. The cruial feature of FER is that it reflects the violation of the detailed balance in the coarse-grained hopping process, while it is preserved in the original Einstein relation or GER.
A double exchange model with quenched disorder for conduction electrons is studied by field theoretical methods. By using a path integral formalism and replica techniques based on it, an ensemble-averaged spin wave dispersion of the localized spins is derived. It is shown that the spectrum of the spin wave has gaps at the multiple of the Fermi wavenumber of the conduction electrons in the presence of disorder, and hence, quenched disorder for electrons adds a striking effect to the dynamics of the localized spins. In the strong disorder limit, the present results suggest spin-glass like behavi…
A model for magnetoresistance in positionally disordered organic materials is presented and solved using percolation theory. The model describes the effects of spin flips on hopping transport by considering the effect of spin dynamics on an effective density of hopping sites. Faster spin-flip transitions open up `spin-blocked' pathways to become viable conduction channels and hence produces magnetoresistance. The magnetoresistance can be found analytically in several regimes, including when the spin-flip time is slower than the hopping time. The ratio of hopping time to the hyperfine precessio…
Heat conduction in three types of 1D channels are studied. The channels consist of two parallel walls, right triangles as scattering obstacles, and noninteracting particles. The triangles are placed along the walls in three different ways: (a) periodic, (b) disordered in height, and (c) disordered in position. The Lyapunov exponents in all three models are zero because of the flatness of triangle sides. It is found numerically that the temperature gradient can be formed in all three channels, but the Fourier heat law is observed only in two disordered ones. The results show that there might be…
On the basis of a tight-binding model for a strongly disordered semiconductor with correlated conduction- and valence band disorder a new coherent dynamical intra-band effect is analyzed. For systems that are excited by two, specially designed ultrashort light-pulse sequences delayed by tau relatively to each other echo-like phenomena are predicted to occur. In addition to the inter-band photon echo which shows up at exactly t=2*tau relative to the first pulse, the system responds with two spontaneous intra-band current pulses preceding and following the appearance of the photon echo. The temp…
We study heat conduction in quantum disordered harmonic chains connected to general heat reservoirs which are modeled as infinite collection of oscillators. Formal exact expressions for the thermal current are obtained and it is shown that, in some special cases, they reduce to Landauer-like forms. The asymptotic system size dependence of the current is analysed and is found to be similar to the classical case. It is a power law dependence and the power depends on the spectral properties of the reservoirs.
We investigate the role of localization effects in the Kondo disorder mechanism for non-Fermi liquid behavior in disordered Kondo lattices. We find that the distribution of Kondo temperatures is strongly affected by fluctuations of the conduction electron density of states, a feature neglected in the previous treatment. For moderate disorder, the self-consistent distribution of Kondo temperatures flows to a universal log-normal form, irrespective of the form of the bare disorder distribution. For sufficient disorder, the system enters a Griffiths phase with diverging thermodynamic responses.
We study heat conduction in one dimensional mass disordered harmonic and anharmonic lattices. It is found that the thermal conductivity $κ$ of the disordered anharmonic lattice is finite at low temperature, whereas it diverges as $κ\sim N^{0.43}$ at high temperature. Moreover, we demonstrate that a unique nonequilibrium stationary state in the disordered harmonic lattice does not exist at all.
We investigate the Kondo effect in two-dimensional disordered electron systems using a finite-temperature quantum Monte Carlo method. Depending on the position of a magnetic impurity, the local moment is screened or unscreened by the spin of the conduction electron. On the basis of the results, we show that the distribution of the Kondo temperature becomes wide and the weight at $T_K=0$ becomes large as randomness increases. The average susceptibility shows a weak power-law or logarithmic divergence at low temperature, indicating a non-Fermi-liquid behavior.
Ion conduction in noncrystals (glasses, polymers, etc) has a number of properties in common. In fact, from a purely phenomenological point of view, these properties are even more widely observed: ion conduction behaves much like electronic conduction in disordered materials (e.g., amorphous semiconductors). These universalities are subject of much current interest, for instance interpreted in the context of simple hopping models. In the present paper we first discuss the temperature dependence of the dc conductivity in hopping models and the importance of the percolation phenomenon. Next, the …
We investigate the effects of disorder on Frenkel excitons in disordered conjugated polymers with allowed rotations about single bonds. In these materials, the principal effect of the disorder is to modify the transfer integrals appearing in the exciton Hamiltonian by changing the angle of rotation between single-bonded segments in a random manner. It is assumed the integrals have the form Jk,k+1 cos(qk-qk+1) where Jk,k+1 is taken to be a constant and qk denotes the orientation angle of the kth planar segment. Two types of disorder can be present: segmental disorder which is characterized by i…
The role of Coulomb interaction between the mobile particles in ionic conductors is still under debate. To clarify this aspect we perform Monte Carlo simulations on two simple lattice models (Counter Ion Model and Random Energy Model) which contain Coulomb interaction between the positively charged mobile particles, moving on a static disordered energy landscape. We find that the nature of static disorder plays an important role if one wishes to explore the impact of Coulomb interaction on the microscopic dynamics. This Coulomb type interaction impedes the dynamics in the Random Energy Model, …
We examine the dynamics of driven classical Wigner solids interacting with quenched disorder from charged impurities. For strong disorder, the initial motion is plastic -- in the form of crossing winding channels. For increasing drive, the disordered Wigner glass can reorder to a moving Wigner smectic -- with the electrons moving in non-crossing 1D channels. These different dynamic phases can be related to the conduction noise and I(V) curves. For strong disorder, we show criticality in the voltage onset just above depinning. We also obtain the dynamic phase diagram for driven Wigner solids an…
Raman scattering, IR reflectance and modulated DSC measurements are performed on specifically prepared dry (AgI)x(AgPO3)1-x glasses over a wide range of compositions 0 < x < 0.60. A reversibility window is observed in the 0.095< x < 0.378 range, which fixes the elastically rigid but unstressed regime also known as the Intermediate Phase. Glass compositions at x < 0.095 are stressed-rigid, while those at x > 0.378 elastically flexible. Raman optical elasticity power-laws, trends in the nature of the glass transition endotherms corroborate the three elastic phase assignments. Ionic conductivitie…
It is well known that conductivity of disordered metals is suppressed in the limit of low frequencies and temperatures by quantum corrections. Although predicted by theory to exist up to much higher energies, such corrections have so far been experimentally proven only for $\lesssim$80 meV. Here, by a combination of transport and optical studies, we demonstrate that the quantum corrections are present in strongly disordered conductor MoC up to at least $\sim$4 eV, thereby extending the experimental window where such corrections were found by a factor of 50. The knowledge of both, the real and …
For the low-temperature electrical conductance of a disordered {\it quantum insulator} in $d$-dimensions, Mott \cite{mott} had proposed his Variable Range Hopping (VRH) formula, $G(T) = G_0 {\rm exp}[-(T_0/T)^γ]$, where $G_0$ is a material constant and $T_0$ is a characteristic temperature scale. For disordered but non-interacting carrier charges, Mott had found that $γ= 1/(d+1)$ in $d$-dimensions. Later on, Efros and Shkolvskii \cite{esh} found that for a pure ({\it i.e.}, disorder-free) {\it quantum insulator} with interacting charges, $γ=1/2$, {\it independent of d}. Recent experiments indi…
We present a model supported by simulation to explain the effect of temperature on the conduction threshold in disordered systems. Arrays with randomly distributed local thresholds for conduction occur in systems ranging from superconductors to metal nanocrystal arrays. Thermal fluctuations provide the energy to overcome some of the local thresholds, effectively erasing them as far as the global conduction threshold for the array is concerned. We augment this thermal energy reasoning with percolation theory to predict the temperature at which the global threshold reaches zero. We also study th…
Formulas for the contribution of the conduction electrons to the polarization and magnetization are derived for disordered systems and within a one-particle framework. These results generalize known formulas for Bloch electrons and the presented proofs considerably simplify and strengthen prior justifications. The new formulas show that orbital polarization and magnetization are of geometric nature. This leads to quantization for a periodically driven Piezo effect as well as the derivative of the magnetization w.r.t. the chemical potential. It is also shown how the latter is connected to bound…
The conduction electrons' dephasing rate, $τ_ϕ^{-1}$, is expected to vanish with the temperature. A very intriguing apparent saturation of this dephasing rate in several systems was recently reported at very low temperatures. The suggestion that this represents dephasing by zero-point fluctuations has generated both theoretical and experimental controversies. We start by proving that the dephasing rate must vanish at the $T\to 0$ limit, unless a large ground state degeneracy exists. This thermodynamic proof includes most systems of relevance and it is valid for any determination of $τ_ϕ$ from …
