Antiresonance and interaction-induced localization in spin and qubit chains with defects

We study a spin chain with an anisotropic XXZ coupling in a magnetic field. Such a chain models several proposed types of quantum computers. The chain contains a defect with a different on-site energy. The interaction between excitations leads to the onset of two-excitation states localized next to the defect. In a resonant situation scattering of excitations on each other might cause decay of an excitation localized on the defect. We find that destructive many-particle quantum interference eliminates this decay. Numerical results confirm the analytical predictions. (letter to the editor)