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Anderson localization in a Rydberg composite

ORAL

Abstract

We demonstrate the localization of a Rydberg electron in a Rydberg composite, a system containing a Rydberg atom coupled to a structured environment of neutral ground state atoms. This localization is caused by weak disorder in the arrangement of the atoms and increases with the number of atoms $M$ and principal quantum number $\nu$. We develop a mapping between the electronic Hamiltonian in the basis of degenerate Rydberg states and a tight-binding Hamiltonian in the so-called "trilobite" basis, and then use this concept to pursue a rigorous limiting procedure to reach the thermodynamic limit in this system, taken as both $M$ and $\nu$ become infinite, in order to show that Anderson localization takes place. This system provides avenues to study aspects of Anderson localization under a variety of conditions, e.g. for a wide range of interactions or with correlated/uncorrelated disorder.

Authors

  • Matthew Eiles

    Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems

  • Alex Eisfeld

    Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems

  • Jan-Michael Rost

    Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany, Max Planck Institute for the Physics for Complex Systems