Quasi-one-dimensional disordered systems: fluctuations, transport and interplay

TL;DR

This paper explores how thermal fluctuations in one-dimensional disordered systems influence particle transport, proposing a model where localized electrons move via diffusing sites, matching some experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking lattice fluctuations to electron mobility, explaining temperature-independent and activated transport regimes in weakly coupled chains.

Findings

Mobility remains temperature-independent at low temperatures.

High-temperature behavior shows an activated dependence.

Model aligns with experimental data on liquid crystals and biopolymers.

Abstract

In a one dimensional lattice thermal fluctuations destroy the long-range order making particles of the lattice move on a scale much larger than the lattice spacing. We discuss the assumption that this motion may be responsible for the transport of localized electrons in a system of weakly coupled chains. The model with diffusing localization sites gives a temperature-independent mobility with a crossover to an activated dependence at high temperature. This prediction is consistent with and might account for experimental results on discotic liquid crystals and certain biopolymers.