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Experimental Observation of Equilibrium and Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions via Out-of-Time-Ordered Correlators
Xinfang Nie1,2,3, Bo-Bo Wei4, Xi Chen3
1Shenzhen Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Physical Review Letters
|July 9, 2020
Summary
Out-of-time-ordered correlators (OTOCs) experimentally detect quantum phase transitions in a quantum spin chain. This method offers a robust way to study quantum information scrambling and critical phenomena in quantum systems.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Information Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Simulation
Background:
- Out-of-time-ordered correlators (OTOCs) are key for quantifying quantum information scrambling.
- OTOCs have been proposed as order parameters for detecting equilibrium (EQPTs) and dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally observe EQPTs and DQPTs using OTOCs in a quantum spin chain.
- To compare the effectiveness of OTOCs with conventional order parameters for detecting phase transitions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum simulator to perform quench dynamics.
- Measured the quench dynamics of OTOCs and longitudinal magnetization.
- Investigated two-body correlations during the quench dynamics.
Main Results:
- Successfully observed EQPTs and DQPTs via OTOC quench dynamics.
- OTOCs unambiguously detected DQPTs and the equilibrium critical point.
- OTOCs demonstrated higher accuracy and robustness to decoherence compared to two-body correlations for critical point extraction.
Conclusions:
- OTOCs serve as a powerful tool for experimentally detecting DQPTs and EQPTs.
- This experimental approach using OTOCs in quantum simulators opens new avenues for studying nonequilibrium quantum dynamics and critical phenomena.
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