Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2306.07340 · Physical Review Letters

Conformal Invariance and Multifractality at Anderson Transitions in Arbitrary Dimensions

Jaychandran Padayasi, Ilya A. Gruzberg

Published Dec 26, 2023• 7 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Multifractals arise in various systems across nature whose scaling behavior is characterized by a continuous spectrum of multifractal exponents Δ_{q}. In the context of Anderson transitions, the multifractality of critical wave functions is described by operators O_{q} with scaling dimensions Δ_{q} in a field-theory description of the transitions. The operators O_{q} satisfy the so-called Abelian fusion expressed as a simple operator product expansion. Assuming conformal invariance and Abelian fusion, we use the conformal bootstrap framework to derive a constraint that implies that the multifractal spectrum Δ_{q} (and its generalized form) must be quadratic in its arguments in any dimension d≥2.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.131.266401

Related papers

Generalized surface multifractality in two-dimensional disordered systems

Serafim S. Babkin, Jonas F. Karcher, I. S. Burmistrov +1 more

Recently, a concept of generalized multifractality, which characterizes fluctuations and correlations of critical eigenstates, was introduced and explored for all 10 symmetry classes of disordered systems. Here, by using the nonlinear sigma-model ($\mathrm{NL}\ensuremath{\sigma}\mathrm{M}$) field theory, we extend the theory of generalized multifractality to boundaries of systems at criticality. Our numerical simulations on two-dimensional systems of symmetry classes A, C, and AII fully confirm the analytical predictions of pure-scaling observables and Weyl symmetry relations between critical exponents of surface generalized multifractality. This demonstrates the validity of the $\mathrm{NL}\ensuremath{\sigma}\mathrm{M}$ for the description of Anderson-localization critical phenomena, not only in the bulk but also on the boundary. The critical exponents strongly violate generalized parabolicity, in analogy with earlier results for the bulk, corroborating the conclusion that the considered Anderson-localization critical points are not described by conformal field theories. We further derive relations between generalized surface multifractal spectra and linear combinations of Lyapunov exponents of a strip in quasi-one-dimensional geometry, which hold under the assumption of invariance with respect to a logarithmic conformal map. Our numerics demonstrate that these relations hold with an excellent accuracy. Taken together, our results indicate an intriguing situation: the conformal invariance is broken but holds partially at critical points of Anderson localization.

arXiv:2306.09455•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Sep 18, 2023•7 citations

Multifractal finite-size scaling at the Anderson transition in the unitary symmetry class

Jakob Lindinger, Alberto Rodríguez

We use multifractal finite-size scaling to perform a high-precision numerical study of the critical properties of the Anderson localization-delocalization transition in the unitary symmetry class, considering the Anderson model including a random magnetic flux. We demonstrate the scale invariance of the distribution of wave-function intensities at the critical point and study its behavior across the transition. Our analysis, involving more than $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ independently generated wave functions of system sizes up to ${L}^{3}={150}^{3}$, yields accurate estimates for the critical exponent of the localization length, $\ensuremath{\nu}=1.446(1.440,1.452)$, the critical value of the disorder strength, and the multifractal exponents.

arXiv:1707.05701•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Oct 5, 2017•23 citations

Gaussian free fields at the integer quantum Hall plateau transition

Roberto Bondesan, Dagmar Wieczorek, Martin R. Zirnbauer

In this work we put forward an effective Gaussian free field description of critical wavefunctions at the transition between plateaus of the integer quantum Hall effect. To this end, we expound our earlier proposal that powers of critical wave intensities prepared via point contacts behave as pure scaling fields obeying an Abelian operator product expansion. Our arguments employ the framework of conformal field theory and, in particular, lead to a multifractality spectrum which is parabolic. We also derive a number of old and new identities that hold exactly at the lattice level and hinge on the correspondence between the Chalker–Coddington network model and a supersymmetric vertex model.

arXiv:1612.04109•Nuclear Physics B•Feb 28, 2017•29 citations

Multifractal finite-size scaling and universality at the Anderson transition

Alberto Rodríguez, Louella J. Vasquez, Keith Slevin +1 more

We describe a new multifractal finite-size scaling (MFSS) procedure and its application to the Anderson localization-delocalization transition. MFSS permits the simultaneous estimation of the critical parameters and the multifractal exponents. Simulations of system sizes up to ${L}^{3}={120}^{3}$ and involving nearly ${10}^{6}$ independent wave functions have yielded unprecedented precision for the critical disorder ${W}_{c}=16.530(16.524,16.536)$ and the critical exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}=1.590(1.579,1.602)$. We find that the multifractal exponents ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{q}$ exhibit a previously predicted symmetry relation and we confirm the nonparabolic nature of their spectrum. We explain in detail the MFSS procedure first introduced in our Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 046403 (2010)] and, in addition, we show how to take account of correlations in the simulation data. The MFSS procedure is applicable to any continuous phase transition exhibiting multifractal fluctuations in the vicinity of the critical point.

arXiv:1107.5736•Physical Review B•Oct 31, 2011•173 citations

Connecting finite-size scaling and renormalization-group flows in Anderson localization on random graphs

Ignacio García-Mata, Weitao Chen, John Martin +2 more

We investigate the relation between two complementary descriptions of the Anderson transition on small-world random graphs: finite-size scaling of eigenfunction moments and renormalization-group (RG) flows of multifractal dimensions $D_q$. The RG flows recover the qualitative structure previously reported for the information dimension $D_1$, while their extension to other $D_q$ with smaller moment orders $q<1/2$ confirms the strongly multifractal nature of the localized phase characterized by a clear separation between multifractal and localized behaviors at strong disorder. On the other hand, we show that we can construct another beta function characterizing the flow of eigenfunction moments, whose collapse onto a single function across different disorder strengths provides a clear confirmation of single-parameter scaling property. These results indicate that the family of RG trajectories observed for the information dimension $D_1$ need not imply two-parameter scaling and Kosterlitz-Thouless like critical behavior. To characterize these properties, one should consider different observables, such as large $q>1/2$ and small $q<1/2$ eigenfunction moments, which are associated with distinct critical behaviors, in particular different critical exponents.

cond-mat.dis-nnCross-listedarXiv:2609.31872•Sep 29, 2026

Operator Scaling Dimensions and Multifractality at Measurement-Induced Transitions

Aidan Zabalo, Michael J. Gullans, Justin H. Wilson +5 more

Repeated local measurements of quantum many-body systems can induce a phase transition in their entanglement structure. These measurement-induced phase transitions (MIPTs) have been studied for various types of dynamics, yet most cases yield quantitatively similar critical exponents, making it unclear how many distinct universality classes are present. Here, we probe the properties of the conformal field theories governing these MIPTs using a numerical transfer-matrix method, which allows us to extract the effective central charge, as well as the first few low-lying scaling dimensions of operators at these critical points for (1+1)-dimensional systems. Our results provide convincing evidence that the generic and Clifford MIPTs for qubits lie in different universality classes and that both are distinct from the percolation transition for qudits in the limit of large on-site Hilbert space dimension. For the generic case, we find strong evidence of multifractal scaling of correlation functions at the critical point, reflected in a continuous spectrum of scaling dimensions.

arXiv:2107.03393•Physical Review Letters•Feb 3, 2022•136 citations
Multifractals arise in various systems across nature whose scaling behavior is characterized by a continuous spectrum of multifractal exponents Δ_{q}. In the context of Anderson transitions, the multifractality of critical wave functions is described by operators O_{q} with scaling dimensions Δ_{q} in a field-theory description of the transitions. The operators O_{q} satisfy the so-called Abelian fusion expressed as a simple operator product expansion. Assuming conformal invariance and Abelian fusion, we use the conformal bootstrap framework to derive a constraint that implies that the multifractal spectrum Δ_{q} (and its generalized form) must be quadratic in its arguments in any dimension d≥2.
Recently, a concept of generalized multifractality, which characterizes fluctuations and correlations of critical eigenstates, was introduced and explored for all 10 symmetry classes of disordered systems. Here, by using the nonlinear sigma-model ($\mathrm{NL}\ensuremath{\sigma}\mathrm{M}$) field theory, we extend the theory of generalized multifractality to boundaries of systems at criticality. Our numerical simulations on two-dimensional systems of symmetry classes A, C, and AII fully confirm the analytical predictions of pure-scaling observables and Weyl symmetry relations between critical exponents of surface generalized multifractality. This demonstrates the validity of the $\mathrm{NL}\ensuremath{\sigma}\mathrm{M}$ for the description of Anderson-localization critical phenomena, not only in the bulk but also on the boundary. The critical exponents strongly violate generalized parabolicity, in analogy with earlier results for the bulk, corroborating the conclusion that the considered Anderson-localization critical points are not described by conformal field theories. We further derive relations between generalized surface multifractal spectra and linear combinations of Lyapunov exponents of a strip in quasi-one-dimensional geometry, which hold under the assumption of invariance with respect to a logarithmic conformal map. Our numerics demonstrate that these relations hold with an excellent accuracy. Taken together, our results indicate an intriguing situation: the conformal invariance is broken but holds partially at critical points of Anderson localization.
We use multifractal finite-size scaling to perform a high-precision numerical study of the critical properties of the Anderson localization-delocalization transition in the unitary symmetry class, considering the Anderson model including a random magnetic flux. We demonstrate the scale invariance of the distribution of wave-function intensities at the critical point and study its behavior across the transition. Our analysis, involving more than $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ independently generated wave functions of system sizes up to L3=1503{L}^{3}={150}^{3}L3=1503, yields accurate estimates for the critical exponent of the localization length, $\ensuremath{\nu}=1.446(1.440,1.452)$, the critical value of the disorder strength, and the multifractal exponents.
In this work we put forward an effective Gaussian free field description of critical wavefunctions at the transition between plateaus of the integer quantum Hall effect. To this end, we expound our earlier proposal that powers of critical wave intensities prepared via point contacts behave as pure scaling fields obeying an Abelian operator product expansion. Our arguments employ the framework of conformal field theory and, in particular, lead to a multifractality spectrum which is parabolic. We also derive a number of old and new identities that hold exactly at the lattice level and hinge on the correspondence between the Chalker–Coddington network model and a supersymmetric vertex model.
We describe a new multifractal finite-size scaling (MFSS) procedure and its application to the Anderson localization-delocalization transition. MFSS permits the simultaneous estimation of the critical parameters and the multifractal exponents. Simulations of system sizes up to L3=1203{L}^{3}={120}^{3}L3=1203 and involving nearly 106{10}^{6}106 independent wave functions have yielded unprecedented precision for the critical disorder Wc=16.530(16.524,16.536){W}_{c}=16.530(16.524,16.536)Wc​=16.530(16.524,16.536) and the critical exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}=1.590(1.579,1.602)$. We find that the multifractal exponents ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{q}$ exhibit a previously predicted symmetry relation and we confirm the nonparabolic nature of their spectrum. We explain in detail the MFSS procedure first introduced in our Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 046403 (2010)] and, in addition, we show how to take account of correlations in the simulation data. The MFSS procedure is applicable to any continuous phase transition exhibiting multifractal fluctuations in the vicinity of the critical point.
We investigate the relation between two complementary descriptions of the Anderson transition on small-world random graphs: finite-size scaling of eigenfunction moments and renormalization-group (RG) flows of multifractal dimensions DqD_qDq​. The RG flows recover the qualitative structure previously reported for the information dimension D1D_1D1​, while their extension to other DqD_qDq​ with smaller moment orders q<1/2q<1/2q<1/2 confirms the strongly multifractal nature of the localized phase characterized by a clear separation between multifractal and localized behaviors at strong disorder. On the other hand, we show that we can construct another beta function characterizing the flow of eigenfunction moments, whose collapse onto a single function across different disorder strengths provides a clear confirmation of single-parameter scaling property. These results indicate that the family of RG trajectories observed for the information dimension D1D_1D1​ need not imply two-parameter scaling and Kosterlitz-Thouless like critical behavior. To characterize these properties, one should consider different observables, such as large q>1/2q>1/2q>1/2 and small q<1/2q<1/2q<1/2 eigenfunction moments, which are associated with distinct critical behaviors, in particular different critical exponents.
Repeated local measurements of quantum many-body systems can induce a phase transition in their entanglement structure. These measurement-induced phase transitions (MIPTs) have been studied for various types of dynamics, yet most cases yield quantitatively similar critical exponents, making it unclear how many distinct universality classes are present. Here, we probe the properties of the conformal field theories governing these MIPTs using a numerical transfer-matrix method, which allows us to extract the effective central charge, as well as the first few low-lying scaling dimensions of operators at these critical points for (1+1)-dimensional systems. Our results provide convincing evidence that the generic and Clifford MIPTs for qubits lie in different universality classes and that both are distinct from the percolation transition for qudits in the limit of large on-site Hilbert space dimension. For the generic case, we find strong evidence of multifractal scaling of correlation functions at the critical point, reflected in a continuous spectrum of scaling dimensions.