• Open Access

Entanglement View of Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions

Stefano De Nicola, Alexios A. Michailidis, and Maksym Serbyn
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 040602 – Published 29 January 2021
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Abstract

The analogy between an equilibrium partition function and the return probability in many-body unitary dynamics has led to the concept of dynamical quantum phase transition (DQPT). DQPTs are defined by nonanalyticities in the return amplitude and are present in many models. In some cases, DQPTs can be related to equilibrium concepts, such as order parameters, yet their universal description is an open question. In this Letter, we provide first steps toward a classification of DQPTs by using a matrix product state description of unitary dynamics in the thermodynamic limit. This allows us to distinguish the two limiting cases of “precession” and “entanglement” DQPTs, which are illustrated using an analytical description in the quantum Ising model. While precession DQPTs are characterized by a large entanglement gap and are semiclassical in their nature, entanglement DQPTs occur near avoided crossings in the entanglement spectrum and can be distinguished by a complex pattern of nonlocal correlations. We demonstrate the existence of precession and entanglement DQPTs beyond Ising models, discuss observables that can distinguish them, and relate their interplay to complex DQPT phenomenology.

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  • Received 27 August 2020
  • Accepted 23 December 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.040602

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Stefano De Nicola, Alexios A. Michailidis, and Maksym Serbyn

  • IST Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria

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Issue

Vol. 126, Iss. 4 — 29 January 2021

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