Universal Relation between Spectral and Wavefunction Properties at Criticality

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a universal relation between spectral properties and wavefunction delocalization at criticality in quantum systems, supported by numerical evidence across various models, and proposes a universal function linking level spacing ratios to fractal dimensions.

Contribution

It establishes and supports a universal relation $ ext{spectral compressibility} + ext{fractal dimension} = 1$ at criticality across diverse quantum models.

Findings

Supports the relation $ ext{χ} + D_1 = 1$ in multiple models

Confirms the accuracy of a spectral compressibility formula for random banded matrices

Derives a universal function $D_1(r)$ valid for broad critical systems

Abstract

Quantum-chaotic systems exhibit several universal properties, ranging from level repulsion in the energy spectrum to wavefunction delocalization. On the other hand, if wavefunctions are localized, the levels exhibit no level repulsion and their statistics is Poisson. At the boundary between quantum chaos and localization, however, one observes critical behavior, not complying with any of those characteristics. An outstanding open question is whether there exist yet another type of universality, which is genuine for the critical point. Previous work suggested that there may exist a relation between the global characteristics of energy spectrum, such as spectral compressibility $\chi$, and the degree of wavefunction delocalization, expressed via the fractal dimension $D_1$ of the Shannon--von Neumann entropy in a preferred (e.g., real-space) basis. Here we study physical systems subject to local and non-local hopping, both with and without time-reversal symmetry, with the Anderson models in dimensions three to five being representatives of the first class, and the banded random matrices as representatives of the second class. Our thorough numerical analysis supports validity of the simple relation $\chi + D_1 = 1$ in all systems under investigation. Hence we conjecture that it represents a universal property of a broad class of critical models. Moreover, we test and confirm the accuracy of our surmise for a closed-form expression of the spectral compressibility in the one-parameter critical manifold of random banded matrices. Based on these findings we derive a universal function $D_{1}(r)$, where $r$ is the averaged level spacing ratio, which is valid for a broad class of critical systems.