title: Variable-range hopping and quantum creep in one dimension.
abstract: We study the quantum nonlinear response to an applied electric field E of a one-dimensional pinned charge-density wave or Luttinger liquid in the presence of disorder. From an explicit construction of low-lying metastable states and of bounce instanton solutions between them, we demonstrate quantum creep v=e(-c/E(1/2)) as well as a sharp crossover at E=E(*) towards a linear response form consistent with variable-range hopping arguments, but dependent only on electronic degrees of freedom.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77 D-50937 Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nattermann
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giamarchi
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Doussal