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Experimental Observation of a Time-Driven Phase Transition in Quantum Chaos
Clément Hainaut1, Ping Fang2,3, Adam Rançon1
1Université de Lille, CNRS, UMR 8523-PhLAM-Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers Atomes et Molécules, F-59000 Lille, France‡.
Physical Review Letters
|October 13, 2018
Summary
Researchers observed the first time-driven phase transition in a quantum chaotic system, the quantum kicked rotor. This transition reveals a recovery of system memory after a critical time due to quantum interference effects.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Statistical mechanics
- Chaos theory
Background:
- Quantum chaotic systems exhibit complex dynamics.
- Phase transitions are fundamental phenomena in thermodynamics.
- The quantum kicked rotor is a model system for studying quantum chaos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally observe a time-driven phase transition in a quantum chaotic system.
- To investigate the analogy between this transition and thermodynamic phase transitions.
- To understand the role of quantum interference in system memory.
Main Methods:
- Experimental realization of the quantum kicked rotor.
- Measurement of the rotor's kinetic energy over time.
- Analysis of system dynamics and memory effects.
Main Results:
- First experimental observation of a time-driven phase transition in the quantum kicked rotor.
- Demonstration of an analogy between time and temperature, and kinetic energy and free energy.
- Identification of a critical time marking a change in system memory behavior.
Conclusions:
- The quantum kicked rotor undergoes a phase transition driven by time.
- Quantum interference is responsible for memory recovery after the critical time.
- This study provides new insights into quantum chaos and phase transitions.
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