Charge density waves in disordered media circumventing the Imry-Ma argument

Journal Article · 23 August 2016 · Scientific Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep31897 · OSTI ID:1326656

Changlani, Hitesh J. ^[1]; Tubman, Norm M. ^[2]; Hughes, Taylor L. ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics; none
2. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics; Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Physics
3. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics

Two powerful theoretical predictions, Anderson localization and the Imry-Ma argument, impose significant restrictions on the phases of matter that can exist in the presence of even the smallest amount of disorder in one-dimensional systems. These predictions forbid electrically conducting states and ordered states respectively. It was thus remarkable that a mechanism to circumvent Anderson localization relying on the presence of correlated disorder was found, that is also realized in certain biomolecular systems. Here, in a similar manner, we show that the Imry-Ma argument can be circumvented, resulting in the formation of stable ordered states with discrete broken symmetries in disordered one dimensional systems. We then investigate other mechanisms by which disorder can destroy an ordered state.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF); Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE Office of Science; USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725; NA0001789; SC0008692
• OSTI ID: 1326656
• Journal Information: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Vol. 6; ISSN 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English