Finite-length Lyapunov exponents and conductance for quasi-1D disordered solids

The transfer matrix method is applied to finite quasi-1D disordered samples attached to perfect leads. The model is described by structured band matri ces with random and regular entries. We investigate numerically the level-s pacing distribution for finite-length Lyapunov exponents as well as the con ductance and its fluctuations for different channel numbers and sample size s. A comparison is made with theoretical predictions and with numerical res ults recently obtained with the scattering matrix approach. The role of the coupling and finite size effects is also discussed. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. all rights reserved.