Evidence for ideal insulating or conducting state in a one-dimensional integrable system

Using numerical diagonalization techniques we analyze the finite temperature/frequency conductance of a one-dimensional model of interacting spinless fermions. Depending on the interaction, the observed finite temperature charge stiffness and low-frequency conductance indicate a fundamental difference between integrable and nonintegrable cases. The integrable systems behave as ideal conductors in the metallic regime and as ideal insulators in the insulating one. The nonintegrable systems are, as expected, generic conductors in the metallic regime and activated ones in the insulating regime. © 1996 The American Physical Society.