Linear response theory for magnetic Schrödinger operators in disordered media (Q2565536)

The authors investigate properties of the electric conductivity tensor for ergodic Schrödinger operators with a magnetic field, of the form \[ H_\omega=(-i\nabla-A_\omega)^2+V_\omega, \] \(V_\omega\) being a random background electric field. Their aim is to give a controlled derivation of a Kubo formula (therefore validating linear response theory) within the noninteracting particle approximation. This is a different point of view with respect to much of the existing literature, where the Kubo formula is given for granted and one derives the quantum Hall conductivity from it. The time-evolution of the density matrix of the system subject to a non-stationary electric field is described by a Liouville equation, which can be written as an integral equation (the Duhamel formula). It is proven that the induced current per unit volume is differentiable at zero field, which yields the desired Kubo formula for the electric conductivity tensor. Moreover, the expected expression for the quantum Hall conductivity, the Kubo-Streda formula, is recovered. This result is proven under some conditions on the initial density matrix: in particular, this covers the case of the Fermi-Dirac distribution at positive temperature and at zero temperature, in the latter case provided that the Fermi energy lies either in a gap of the spectrum or in a region of localization of the time-independent Hamiltonian.