Scaling and Universality at Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions

Markus Heyl
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 140602 – Published 2 October 2015
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Abstract

Dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs) at critical times appear as nonanalyticities during nonequilibrium quantum real-time evolution. Although there is evidence for a close relationship between DQPTs and equilibrium phase transitions, a major challenge is still to connect to fundamental concepts such as scaling and universality. In this work, renormalization group transformations in complex parameter space are formulated for quantum quenches in Ising models showing that the DQPTs are critical points associated with unstable fixed points of equilibrium Ising models. Therefore, these DQPTs obey scaling and universality. On the basis of numerical simulations, signatures of these DQPTs in the dynamical buildup of spin correlations are found with an associated power-law scaling determined solely by the fixed point’s universality class. An outlook is given on how to explore this dynamical scaling experimentally in systems of trapped ions.

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  • Received 1 June 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.140602

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Markus Heyl1,2,3

  • 1Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
  • 2Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
  • 3Physik Department, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 14 — 2 October 2015

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