Quantum transport with strong scattering: Beyond the nonlinear sigma model

Abstract

Transport properties of a two-band system with spectral nodes are studied in the presence of random scattering. Starting from a Grassmann functional integral, we derive a bosonic representation that is based on random phase fluctuations. Averaging leads to a graphical representation of the correlation function with entangled random walks and 4-vertices. In the strong scattering limit we derive a complex transition amplitude. For the example of two-dimensional Dirac fermions we obtain a localization length proportional to the inverse scattering rate.