Scattering theory of efficient quantum transport across finite networks. (31st October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walschaers, Mattia; Mulet, Roberto; Buchleitner, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 50:Number 22(2017:Nov. 15)
• Publication Date: 2017-10-31
• Subjects: scattering theory -- quantum transport -- disorder -- design principles -- networks; Atoms -- Periodicals; Molecules -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Nuclear physics -- Periodicals; 539.6
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6455/aa8d81
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-4075

Abstract

Abstract: We present a scattering theory for the efficient transmission of an excitation across a finite network with designed disorder. We show that the presence of randomly positioned network sites allows significant acceleration of the excitation transfer processes as compared to a dimer structure, but only if the disordered Hamiltonians are constrained to be centrosymmetric and exhibit a dominant doublet in their spectrum. We identify the cause of this efficiency enhancement to be the constructive interplay between disorder-induced fluctuations of the dominant doublet's splitting and the coupling strength between the input and output sites to the scattering channels. We find that the characteristic strength of these fluctuations together with the channel coupling fully control the transfer efficiency.