Work

Coexistence of Anderson localization and quantum scarring in two dimensions

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate finite two-dimensional disordered systems with periodic confinement. At low energies, eigenstates exhibit strong Anderson localization, while at higher energies a subset of states exhibits variational scarring with anisotropic intensity patterns that deviate from random-wave expectations. Scaling theory predicts that in two dimensions all eigenstates localize in the large-system-size limit, yet the energy-dependent localization length and finite-size effects allow these regimes to coexist. We demonstrate that this coexistence produces distinct, robust signatures in both spatial intensity patterns and spectral statistics that are directly observable in mesoscopic electronic, photonic, and cold-atom systems.

Source: Physical review. B./Physical review. B

DOI: 10.1103/hy7f-8fbn

Authors: Fartash Chalangari, Anant Vijay Varma, Joonas Keski-Rahkonen, Esa Räsänen

Institutions: Tampere University, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Quantum chaos and dynamical systems

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, Academy of Finland

Award: Nanoscale Imaging of Quantum Scarring, Electron Guiding, and Steering in Two-Dimensional Material Heterostructures