Quantum Spin Dynamics in Fock Space Following Quenches: Caustics and Vortices

J. Mumford, E. Turner, D. W. L. Sprung, and D. H. J. O’Dell
Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 170402 – Published 3 May 2019
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Abstract

Caustics occur widely in dynamics and take on shapes classified by catastrophe theory. At finite wavelengths they produce interference patterns containing networks of vortices (phase singularities). Here we investigate caustics in quantized fields, focusing on the collective dynamics of quantum spins. We show that, following a quench, caustics are generated in the Fock space amplitudes specifying the many-body configuration and which are accessible in experiments with cold atoms, ions, or photons. The granularity of quantum fields removes all singularities, including phase singularities, converting point vortices into nonlocal vortices that annihilate in pairs as the quantization scale is increased. Furthermore, the continuous scaling laws of wave catastrophes are replaced by discrete versions. Such “quantum catastrophes” are expected to be universal dynamical features of quantized fields.

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  • Received 10 October 2017
  • Revised 22 August 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.170402

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & OpticalCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

J. Mumford, E. Turner, D. W. L. Sprung, and D. H. J. O’Dell*

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada

  • *dodell@mcmaster.ca

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Vol. 122, Iss. 17 — 3 May 2019

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