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Critical Thermalization of a Disordered Dipolar Spin System in Diamond
1Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|August 8, 2018
Summary
Disordered quantum systems challenge thermalization. Researchers observed critical thermalization in electronic spins, showing slow relaxation and power-law decay, explained by a new resonance counting theory.
Area of Science:
- Quantum statistical mechanics
- Condensed matter physics
- Disordered quantum systems
Background:
- Statistical mechanics assumes rapid thermalization in quantum systems.
- Disordered systems are expected to exhibit slow or absent thermalization.
- Understanding thermalization in disordered systems is crucial for quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate critical thermalization in a disordered three-dimensional spin ensemble.
- To explore the dynamics of relaxation and thermalization in such systems.
- To develop a theoretical framework explaining the observed phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Experimental realization of a three-dimensional ensemble of ~10^6 electronic spins using nitrogen vacancy color centers in diamond.
- Precise control over spin states and observation of relaxation dynamics.
- Quantitative comparison with theoretical predictions.
Main Results:
- Observation of slow, subexponential relaxation dynamics.
- Identification of a power-law decay regime with disorder-dependent exponents.
- Modification of power-law behavior at late times due to many-body interactions.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates critical thermalization in a disordered spin ensemble.
- A resonance counting theory successfully explains the observed dynamics, incorporating disorder and interactions.
- Findings challenge traditional assumptions of rapid thermalization in quantum systems.
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