Dynamics of a single electron in the disordered Holstein model

Abstract

We study, at zero temperature, the dynamics of a single electron in a Holstein model augmented by site-diagonal, binary-alloy type disorder. The average over the phonon vacuum and the alloy configurations is performed within a generalized dynamical coherent potential approximation. We present numerical results for a Bethe lattice with infinite coordination number. In particular, we investigate, in the intermediate electron-phonon coupling regime, the spectral and diffusion properties in the vicinity of the high-energy edge of the lowest polaronic subband. To characterize the diffusion properties, we define a spectrally resolved delocalization time, which is, for a given energy, the characteristic time scale on which the electron leaves a given site. We find the delocalization times substantially enhanced for states with a large phonon content, i.e., in the absence (presence) of alloy-type disorder at the high-energy edge(s) of the polaronic subband (mini-subbands). According to their delocalization times, we discriminate between ``fast'' quasi-particle-like and ``sluggish'' defect-like polaron states and qualitatively address the issue of trapping of an electronic carrier.