Multi-fractal Geometry of Finite Networks of Spins
  Quantum spin networks overcome the challenges of traditional charge-based electronics by encoding the information into spin degrees of freedom. Although beneficial for transmitting information with minimal losses when compared to their charge-based counterparts, the mathematical formalization of the information propagation in a spin(tronic) network is challenging due to its complicated scaling properties. In this paper, we propose a geometric approach---specific to finite networks---for unraveling the information-theoretic phenomena of spin chains and rings by abstracting them as weighted graphs, where the vertices correspond to the spin excitation states and the edges represent the information theoretic distance between pair of nodes. The weighted graph representation of the quantum spin network dynamics exhibits a complex self-similar structure (where subgraphs repeat to some extent over various space scales). To quantify this complex behavior, we develop a new box counting inspired algorithm which assesses the mono-fractal versus multi-fractal properties of quantum spin networks. Besides specific to finite networks, multi-fractality is further compounded by "engineering" or "biasing" the network for selective transfer, as selectivity makes the network more heterogeneous. To demonstrate criticality in finite size systems, we define a thermodynamics inspired framework for describing information propagation and show evidence that some spin chains and rings exhibit an informational phase transition phenomenon, akin to the metal-to-insulator phase transition in Anderson localization in finite media.} 
Paul Bogdan, Edmond Jonckheere, Sophie Schirmer
quant-ph