arXiv · 2512.15130
Dynamics and steady states of tight-binding chains in presence of isolated defects
Abstract
Reduced transport and localization in isolated quantum systems are typically attributed to spatially-extended disorder, but may also emerge from the influence of a few controllable defects. We show here how a single defect profoundly reshapes wave-function spreading on a finite and periodic tight-binding lattice. Adapting the defect technique from classical random-walk studies, we obtain exact time-resolved site-occupation probabilities and several observables of interest. Even a single defect induces remarkable nonlinear effects, including non-monotonic suppression of transport, enhanced localization at distant sites, and strong sensitivity to the initial particle position at long times. These results demonstrate that minimal perturbations can generate nontrivial long-time transport signatures, giving rise to a microscopic defect-driven mechanism of quantum localization. Although the main results presented pertain to a single isolated defect, we show that the developed formalism may naturally extend to multiple as well as to a wider class of defects.
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Anish Acharya, Luca Giuggioli, Shamik Gupta. 2025-12-17. Dynamics and steady states of tight-binding chains in presence of isolated defects. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-5468%2Fae5f82
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