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Strong and weak thermalization of infinite nonintegrable quantum systems
M C Bañuls1, J I Cirac, M B Hastings
1Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany. banulsm@mpq.mpg.de
Physical Review Letters
|March 17, 2011
Summary
Quantum systems exhibit complex thermalization behaviors beyond classical physics. We identified strong quantum thermalization, weak classical thermalization, and even non-thermalizing states in closed quantum systems.
Area of Science:
- Quantum mechanics
- Statistical mechanics
- Nonintegrable systems
Background:
- Understanding thermalization in closed quantum systems is a fundamental challenge.
- Classical systems typically reach thermal equilibrium after long evolution times.
- The quantum mechanical description of thermalization is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermalization dynamics of closed quantum systems.
- To identify distinct thermalization regimes and their underlying mechanisms.
- To compare quantum thermalization with its classical counterpart.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel numerical technique for simulating quantum system evolution.
- Analysis of local observables and their convergence to stationary values.
- Classification of initial states based on their thermalization behavior.
Main Results:
- Identification of two primary thermalization regimes: strong and weak.
- Strong thermalization is an intrinsically quantum phenomenon where instantaneous values converge to thermal ones.
- Weak thermalization, akin to classical systems, shows convergence only after time averaging.
- A third class of states was observed that do not thermalize within simulated time scales.
Conclusions:
- Closed quantum systems display a richer thermalization phenomenology than classical systems.
- The observed regimes (strong, weak, and non-thermalizing) depend on the initial state.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the non-thermalizing states and their implications.
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