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Many-Body Critical Phase: Extended and Nonthermal
Yucheng Wang1,2,3, Chen Cheng4, Xiong-Jun Liu1,2,3,5
1Shenzhen Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, and Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Researchers discovered a new quantum phase of matter, the many-body critical (MBC) phase, distinct from ergodic and many-body localization (MBL) phases. This extended, nonthermal phase challenges current understanding of quantum thermalization in many-body systems.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Many-Body Systems
- Disordered Quantum Systems
Background:
- Understanding quantum thermalization is crucial for many-body systems.
- The transition between ergodic and many-body localization (MBL) phases is a key area of study.
- Existing models often consider only ergodic or MBL phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence and properties of a novel quantum phase beyond ergodic and MBL.
- To characterize the behavior of a one-dimensional extended Aubry-André-Harper-Hubbard model.
- To explore the implications for quantum thermalization and system properties.
Main Methods:
- Finite-size scaling analysis to identify and characterize the new phase.
- Analysis of level statistics and wave function multifractality.
- Study of half-chain entanglement entropy and thermalization properties.
Main Results:
- Prediction of a distinct many-body critical (MBC) phase.
- The MBC phase exhibits critical level statistics and deep multifractal wave functions.
- Volume law scaling for entanglement entropy and violation of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis in the MBC phase.
Conclusions:
- The one-dimensional extended Aubry-André-Harper-Hubbard model hosts three fundamental phases: ergodic, MBL, and the novel MBC phase.
- The MBC phase is characterized as extended but nonthermal.
- This discovery expands the understanding of quantum phases and thermalization in many-body systems.
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