Localized computation of eigenstates of random Schrödinger operators

Abstract

This paper concerns the numerical approximation of low-energy eigenstates of the linear random Schrödinger operator. Under oscillatory high-amplitude potentials with a sufficient degree of disorder it is known that these eigenstates localize in the sense of an exponential decay of their moduli. We propose a reliable numerical scheme which provides localized approximations of such localized states. The method is based on a preconditioned inverse iteration including an optimal multigrid solver which spreads information only locally. The practical performance of the approach is illustrated in various numerical experiments in two and three space dimensions and also for a non-linear random Schrödinger operator.

Accepted for publication in SIAM J. Sci. Comput