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Quantum backflow in biased tight-binding systems

Francisco Ricardo Torres Arvizu1,*, Adrian Ortega2, and Hernán Larralde1

  • *Contact author: ftorres@icf.unam.mx
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Phys. Rev. A 113, 032218 – Published 23 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/v49b-zz68

Abstract

We study the phenomenon of quantum backflow in tight-binding systems with complex couplings, considering different boundary conditions and lattice sizes. Backflow is an intrinsically nonclassical effect where the density flux associated with a particle described by the superposition of wave functions with, say, positive momentum, acquires negative values. We calculate the superposition of positive-momentum states that gives rise to the strongest backflow in the system. We also evaluate the bounds on the total amount of probability that flows in the opposite direction of the particle's momentum.

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Phys. Rev. A 113, 032218– Published 23 March, 2026
  • Received 21 November 2025
  • Accepted 26 February 2026
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