Aperiodic Dissipation as a Mechanism for Steady-State Localization

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that aperiodic dissipation can induce steady-state localization in quantum systems through long-range phase correlations, offering a novel method to control localization without relying on disorder.

Contribution

It introduces a new mechanism where aperiodic dissipation causes localization via phase correlations, independent of Hamiltonian disorder or quasiperiodic potentials.

Findings

Incommensurate dissipation modulation most effectively stabilizes localization.

Eigenstate coherence correlates with real-space localization.

Dissipation actively shapes localization rather than merely causing decoherence.

Abstract

Dissipation is traditionally regarded as a disruptive factor in quantum systems because it often leads to decoherence and delocalization. However, recent insights into engineered dissipation reveal that it can be tuned to facilitate various quantum effects, from state stabilization to phase transitions. In this work, we identify aperiodic dissipation as a mechanism for inducing steady-state localization, independent of disorder or a quasiperiodic potential in the Hamiltonian. This localization arises from long-range phase correlations introduced by a spatially varying dissipation phase parameter, which enables nontrivial interference in the steady-state. By systematically comparing two classes of aperiodic dissipation (defined as commensurate and incommensurate cases), we find that incommensurate modulation plays the most efficient role in stabilizing a localized steady-state. Our analysis, based on coherence measures, purity, and participation ratio, reveals a direct link between eigenstate coherence and real-space localization, showing that dissipation can actively shape localization rather than simply causing decoherence. These findings highlight aperiodic dissipation as a viable approach to controlling localization in open quantum systems, potentially enabling new ways to manipulate quantum states and design dissipation-driven phases.