Nonuniversality and strongly interacting two-level systems in glasses at low temperatures

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nonuniversal properties of two-level systems in glasses at low temperatures, proposing experimental tests to distinguish between models and improve understanding for applications like superconducting qubits.

Contribution

It compares the standard tunneling model and the Two-TLS model, predicting different experimental outcomes for nonuniversal TLS properties in disordered solids.

Findings

Different predictions from the models for experimental outcomes.

Proposed tests in disordered lattices like KBr:CN.

Potential to enhance understanding and control of TLSs in amorphous solids.

Abstract

Recent experimental results showing untypical nonlinear absorption and marked deviations from well known universality in the low temperature acoustic and dielectric losses in amorphous solids prove the need for improving the understanding of the nature of two-level systems (TLSs) in these materials. Here we suggest the study of TLSs focused on their properties which are nonuniversal. Our theoretical analysis shows that the standard tunneling model and the recently suggested Two-TLS model provide markedly different predictions for the experimental outcome of these studies. Our results may be directly tested in disordered lattices, e.g KBr:CN, where there is ample theoretical support for the validity of the Two-TLS model, as well as in amorphous solids. Verification of our results in the latter will significantly enhance understanding of the nature of TLSs in amorphous solids, and the ability to manipulate them and reduce their destructive effect in various cutting edge applications including superconducting qubits.