Einstein relation for a driven disordered quantum chain in subdiffusive regime

Abstract

A quantum particle propagates subdiffusively on a strongly disordered chain when it is coupled to itinerant hard-core bosons. We establish a generalized Einstein relation (GER) that relates such subdiffusive spread to an unusual time-dependent drift velocity, which appears as a consequence of a constant electric field. We show that GER remains valid much beyond the regime of the linear response. Qualitatively, it holds true up to strongest drivings when the nonlinear field-effects lead to the Stark-like localization. Numerical calculations based on full quantum evolution are substantiated by much simpler rate equations for the boson-assisted transitions between localized Anderson states.