Many Body Localization and quantum information

It is not often that a new state of matter is proposed with very different properties to those presently existing but in 2005 Basko, Aleiner and Altshuler rigorously showed that a Many Body Localized (MBL) state would behave in a completely different manner to all states presently known in quantum statistical physics. A key concept is the Eigenstate Thermalisation Hypothesis (ETH) which encompasses mathematical treatments showing how systems evolve to equilibrium. In the MBL state the ETH is not operative and concepts of equilibrium statistical mechanics no longer hold, producing many transformative effects such as suppression of decoherence mechanisms limiting conventional quantum information. Information is now contained in localized groups of electrons termed l-bits or Local Integrals of Motion, LIOMs, and the entanglement between electrons and regions can be modulated. It is the purpose of this proposal to investigate in detail this new concept in the field of condensed matter in order to enhance understanding and find new physical phenomena. In principle, using semiconductor technology, condensed matter systems offer greater and more significant opportunities to explore the new physics. The results will impact fields such as quantum information, topological physics, statistical mechanics and phenomena involving localization."