We analyze a one-dimensional XXZ spin chain in a disordered magnetic field. As the main probes of the system's behavior, we use the sensitivity of eigenstates to adiabatic transformations, as expressed through the fidelity susceptibility, in conjunction with the low-frequency asymptotes of the spectral function. We identify a region of maximal chaos—with exponentially enhanced susceptibility—which separates the many-body localized phase from the diffusive ergodic phase. This regime is characterized by slow transport, and we argue that the presence of such slow dynamics highly constrains any possible localization transition in the thermodynamic limit. Rather, the results are more consistent with absence of the localized phase.

• Received 2 June 2021
• Accepted 5 October 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.104.054105