Quantum Brownian motion in a one-dimensional disordered system

Norbert Janssen, Wilhelm Zwerger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We study the diffusion of a quantum Brownian particle in a one-dimensional periodic potential with substitutional disorder. The particle is coupled to a dissipative environment, which induces a frictional force proportional to the velocity. The dynamics for arbitrary temperature is studied by using Feynman's influence-functional theory. We calculate the mobility to lowest order in the disorder and strength of the periodic potential. It is shown that for weak dissipation the linear mobility, which vanishes at T=0 due to localization effects, may exhibit a maximum and a subsequent minimum with increasing temperature. The relation to the diffusion of heavy particles in metals or doped semiconductors is briefly discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)441-446
Number of pages6
JournalZeitschrift für Physik B Condensed Matter
Volume83
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1991
Externally publishedYes

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