title: Vacancy localization in the square dimer model.
abstract: We study the classical dimer model on a square lattice with a single vacancy by developing a graph-theoretic classification of the set of all configurations which extends the spanning tree formulation of close-packed dimers. With this formalism, we can address the question of the possible motion of the vacancy induced by dimer slidings. We find a probability 57/4-10[sqrt2] for the vacancy to be strictly jammed in an infinite system. More generally, the size distribution of the domain accessible to the vacancy is characterized by a power law decay with exponent 9/8. On a finite system, the probability that a vacancy in the bulk can reach the boundary falls off as a power law of the system size with exponent 1/4. The resultant weak localization of vacancies still allows for unbounded diffusion, characterized by a diffusion exponent that we relate to that of diffusion on spanning trees. We also implement numerical simulations of the model with both free and periodic boundary conditions.
authors.affiliation: Service de Physique Théorique, CEA/DSM/SPhT, Unité de recherche associée au CNRS, CEA/Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France. jeremie.bouttier@cea.fr
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouttier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bowick
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guitter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeng