Transient Localization from the Interaction with Quantum Bosons

We carefully revisit the electron-boson scattering problem, going beyond weak-coupling expansions and popular semiclassical treatments. By providing numerically exact results valid at finite temperatures, we demonstrate the existence of a broad regime of electron-boson scattering where quantum local...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2024-06, Vol.132 (26), p.266502, Article 266502
Main Authors: Rammal, Hadi, Ralko, Arnaud, Ciuchi, Sergio, Fratini, Simone
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We carefully revisit the electron-boson scattering problem, going beyond weak-coupling expansions and popular semiclassical treatments. By providing numerically exact results valid at finite temperatures, we demonstrate the existence of a broad regime of electron-boson scattering where quantum localization processes become relevant despite the absence of extrinsic disorder. Localization in the Anderson sense is caused by the dynamical randomness resulting from a large thermal boson population, being, however, effective only at transient times before diffusion can set in. Compelling evidence of this transient localization phenomenon is provided by the observation of a distinctive displaced Drude peak in the optical absorption and the ensuing suppression of conductivity. Our findings identify a general route for anomalous metallic behavior that can broadly apply in interacting quantum matter.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.266502