Kibble-Zurek mechanism with a single particle: dynamics of the localization-delocalization transition in the Aubry-André model

Abstract

The Aubry-André 1D lattice model describes a particle hopping in a pseudo-random potential. Depending on its strength $λ$, all eigenstates are either localized ($λ>1$) or delocalized ($λ<1$). Near the transition, the localization length diverges like $ξ\sim(λ-1)^{-ν}$ with $ν=1$. We show that when the particle is initially prepared in a localized ground state and the potential strength is slowly ramped down across the transition, then -- in analogy with the Kibble-Zurek mechanism -- it enters the delocalized phase having finite localization length $\hatξ\simτ_Q^{ν/(1+zν)}$. Here $τ_Q$ is ramp/quench time and $z$ is a dynamical exponent. At $λ=1$ we determine $z\simeq2.37$ from the power law scaling of energy gap with lattice size $L$. Even though for infinite $L$ the model is gapless, we show that the gap relevant for excitation during the ramp remains finite. Close to the critical point it scales like $ξ^{-z}$ with the value of $z$ determined by the finite size scaling. It is the gap between the ground state and the lowest of those excited states that overlap with the ground state enough to be accessible for excitation. We propose an experiment with a non-interacting BEC to test our prediction. Our hypothesis is further supported by considering a generalized version of Aubry-André model possessing an energy-dependent mobility edge.