Impurity-directed transport within a finite disordered lattice

• Published in: Physica. E, Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures, 2018-02, Vol.96, p.62-72
• Main Authors: Magnetta, Bradley J., Ordonez, Gonzalo, Garmon, Savannah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1386-9477; 1873-1759
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physe.2017.09.018

We consider a finite, disordered 1D quantum lattice with a side-attached impurity. We study theoretically the transport of a single electron from the impurity into the lattice, at zero temperature. The transport is dominated by Anderson localization and, in general, the electron motion has a random character due to the lattice disorder. However, we show that by adjusting the impurity energy the electron can attain quasi-periodic motions, oscillating between the impurity and a small region of the lattice. This region corresponds to the spatial extent of a localized state with an energy matched by that of the impurity. By precisely tuning the impurity energy, the electron can be set to oscillate between the impurity and a region far from the impurity, even distances larger than the Anderson localization length. The electron oscillations result from the interference of hybridized states, which have some resemblance to Pendry's necklace states (Pendry, 1987) [21]. The dependence of the electron motion on the impurity energy gives a potential mechanism for selectively routing an electron towards different regions of a 1D disordered lattice. •We show controllable electron motion between a side impurity and disordered wire.•Impurity-energy acts as a tunable parameter directing the electron within the wire.•We show electron motion occurs in a predictable, quasi-periodic fashion.•Range of transport can be larger than localization length by precise energy tuning.