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Mixed-Order Symmetry-Breaking Quantum Phase Transition Far from Equilibrium
T O Puel1,2,3,4, Stefano Chesi1,5, S Kirchner3,4
1Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China.
Physical Review Letters
|July 13, 2019
Summary
This study reveals novel nonequilibrium phase transitions in a magnetic system. Out-of-equilibrium conditions enable unique critical phenomena and entanglement entropy behavior not seen in equilibrium.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum magnetism
Background:
- The transverse field Ising model is a fundamental model in statistical mechanics.
- Understanding nonequilibrium quantum systems is crucial for advancing quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nonequilibrium phase diagram of a transverse field Ising chain coupled to magnetic reservoirs.
- To explore critical phenomena and entanglement entropy in driven quantum systems.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of the transverse field Ising chain.
- Analysis of magnetization potential and bias effects.
- Calculation of order parameter, correlation length, and entanglement entropy.
Main Results:
- A discontinuous jump in the magnetic order parameter was observed with increasing magnetization bias.
- Correlation length diverges at the phase transition.
- Entanglement entropy exhibits a bias-dependent logarithmic correction violating the area law at zero temperature.
Conclusions:
- Out-of-equilibrium conditions facilitate novel critical phenomena absent in equilibrium.
- The observed entanglement entropy differs significantly from equilibrium predictions.
- This research opens avenues for exploring quantum phenomena in driven systems.
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