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An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Dynamical phase transitions and instabilities in open atomic many-body systems.
Sebastian Diehl1, Andrea Tomadin, Andrea Micheli
1Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
Summary
We found a new type of nonequilibrium phase transition in open quantum systems driven by competing dynamics. This transition, influenced by dissipation, exhibits unique critical behaviors and instabilities.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Many-body systems
- Non-equilibrium dynamics
Background:
- Open quantum systems exhibit complex dynamics due to interactions with their environment.
- Competition between unitary (Hamiltonian) and dissipative (Liouvillian) evolution can drive systems out of equilibrium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a nonequilibrium phase transition in an open driven-dissipative many-body system.
- To characterize the phase diagram and critical behavior of this novel transition.
- To identify unique instabilities arising from dissipative dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a driven-dissipative many-body system.
- Characterization of phase transitions by examining the interplay of Hamiltonian and Liouvillian dynamics.
- Investigation of critical behavior and dynamical instabilities as a function of time.
Main Results:
- A nonequilibrium phase transition driven by the competition between unitary and dissipative dynamics.
- The ordered phase shares characteristics with both quantum and classical phase transitions.
- Discovery of a novel fluctuation-induced dynamical instability at long wavelengths.
- Identification of dissipative renormalization effects on the speed of sound.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a unique class of phase transitions in open quantum systems.
- Dissipative dynamics play a crucial role in renormalizing system properties and inducing instabilities.
- The findings offer new insights into the behavior of driven-dissipative quantum matter.
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