Glassy Behavior of Electrons as a Precursor to the Localization Transition

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model predicting an intermediate metallic glass phase characterized by glassy electron dynamics occurring before the electron localization transition in disordered systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework showing that glassy electron behavior precedes localization, suggesting a new phase in the metal-insulator transition.

Findings

Glassy electron freezing occurs before localization transition.

An intermediate metallic glass phase exists between metal and insulator.

Glassy dynamics can serve as a precursor to electron localization.

Abstract

A theoretical model is presented, describing the glassy freezing of electrons in the vicinity of disorder driven metal-insulator transitions. Our results indicate that the onset of glassy dynamics should emerge before the localization transition is reached, thus predicting the existence of an intermediate metallic glass phase between the normal metal and the insulator.