self-similarity

In this work we study the dynamics of wave packets propagation of a few interacting quantum particles with different types of spatial inhomogeneity. Single particle or, equivalently, many noninteracting particles are localized in the case of spatial disorder, and experience localization–delocalization transition in the case of quasi-periodic inhomogeneity.

These lectures were delivered to the high school students at the School – seminar «Nonlinear Days for Youth in Saratov – 2012» in October 2012. They present the two ways of historical investigation of symmetry. The first way is self-similarity, i.e. invariance at dimension scale changing. In a more general way the term «scaling» is used, meaning the existence of power-law correlation between some variable and variables x1, ...xn: y = Axα1...xαn1 (self-similarity) appearing in various fields of science and culture. G.I. Barenblatt indicates that scaling laws never appear by accident.