We describe a new multifractal finite size scaling (MFSS) procedure and its application to the Anderson localization-delocalization transition. MFSS permits the simultaneous estimation of the critical parameters and the multifractal exponents. Simula
tions of system sizes up to L^3=120^3 and involving nearly 10^6 independent wavefunctions have yielded unprecedented precision for the critical disorder W_c=16.530 (16.524,16.536) and the critical exponent nu=1.590 (1.579,1.602). We find that the multifractal exponents Delta_q exhibit a previously predicted symmetry relation and we confirm the non-parabolic nature of their spectrum. We explain in detail the MFSS procedure first introduced in our Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 046403 (2010)] and, in addition, we show how to take account of correlations in the simulation data. The MFSS procedure is applicable to any continuous phase transition exhibiting multifractal fluctuations in the vicinity of the critical point.
We propose a generalization of multifractal analysis that is applicable to the critical regime of the Anderson localization-delocalization transition. The approach reveals that the behavior of the probability distribution of wavefunction amplitudes i
s sufficient to characterize the transition. In combination with finite-size scaling, this formalism permits the critical parameters to be estimated without the need for conductance or other transport measurements. Applying this method to high-precision data for wavefunction statistics obtained by exact diagonalization of the three-dimensional Anderson model, we estimate the critical exponent $ u=1.58pm 0.03$.
The probability density function (PDF) for critical wavefunction amplitudes is studied in the three-dimensional Anderson model. We present a formal expression between the PDF and the multifractal spectrum f(alpha) in which the role of finite-size cor
rections is properly analyzed. We show the non-gaussian nature and the existence of a symmetry relation in the PDF. From the PDF, we extract information about f(alpha) at criticality such as the presence of negative fractal dimensions and we comment on the possible existence of termination points. A PDF-based multifractal analysis is hence shown to be a valid alternative to the standard approach based on the scaling of general inverse participation ratios.
We study various box-size scaling techniques to obtain the multifractal properties, in terms of the singularity spectrum f(alpha), of the critical eigenstates at the metal-insulator transition within the 3-D Anderson model of localisation. The typica
l and ensemble averaged scaling laws of the generalised inverse participation ratios are considered. In pursuit of a numerical optimisation of the box-scaling technique we discuss different box-partitioning schemes including cubic and non-cubic boxes, use of periodic boundary conditions to enlarge the system and single and multiple origins for the partitioning grid are also implemented. We show that the numerically most reliable method is to divide a system of linear size L equally into cubic boxes of size l for which L/l is an integer. This method is the least numerically expensive while having a good reliability.
The multifractality of the critical eigenstate at the metal to insulator transition (MIT) in the three-dimensional Anderson model of localization is characterized by its associated singularity spectrum f(alpha). Recent works in 1D and 2D critical sys
tems have suggested an exact symmetry relation in f(alpha). Here we show the validity of the symmetry at the Anderson MIT with high numerical accuracy and for very large system sizes. We discuss the necessary statistical analysis that supports this conclusion. We have obtained the f(alpha) from the box- and system-size scaling of the typical average of the generalized inverse participation ratios. We show that the best symmetry in f(alpha) for typical averaging is achieved by system-size scaling, following a strategy that emphasizes using larger system sizes even if this necessitates fewer disorder realizations.
We study the multifractal analysis (MFA) of electronic wavefunctions at the localisation-delocalisation transition in the 3D Anderson model for very large system sizes up to $240^3$. The singularity spectrum $f(alpha)$ is numerically obtained using t
he textsl{ensemble average} of the scaling law for the generalized inverse participation ratios $P_q$, employing box-size and system-size scaling. The validity of a recently reported symmetry law [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 046803 (2006)] for the multifractal spectrum is carefully analysed at the metal-insulator transition (MIT). The results are compared to those obtained using different approaches, in particular the typical average of the scaling law. System-size scaling with ensemble average appears as the most adequate method to carry out the numerical MFA. Some conjectures about the true shape of $f(alpha)$ in the thermodynamic limit are also made.
