Transport properties of a spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain with an embedded spin-S impurity

Abstract: The finite temperature transport properties of a spin-1/2 anisotropic Heisenberg chain with an embedded spin-S impurity are studied. Using primarily numerical diagonalization techniques, we study the dependence of the dynamical spin and thermal conductivities on the lattice size, the magnitude of the impurity spin, the host-impurity coupling, the easy axis anisotropy, as well as the dependence on temperature. Particularly for the temperature dependence, we discuss the screening of the impurity by the chain eventually leading to the cutting or healing of the host chain. Numerical results are supported by analytical arguments obtained in the strong host-impurity coupling regime.