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Breakdown of thermalization in spin chains with single-ion anisotropy
M G Sousa1, R F P Costa1, G D de Moraes Neto2,3
1Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil.
Many-body localization in quantum spin chains can be disrupted by specific magnetic fields and single-ion anisotropy. This study reveals how these factors influence thermalization and localization dynamics in quantum systems.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Statistical mechanics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Ergodicity and thermalization are foundational principles in statistical mechanics.
- Many-body localization (MBL) disrupts these principles by conserving local information.
- Quantum spin chains are key systems for studying closed interacting quantum many-body dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of a quantum spin chain with specific parameters under non-uniform magnetic fields and single-ion anisotropy.
- To explore the conditions leading to Stark many-body localization (SMBL) and other forms of localization.
- To understand the interplay between magnetic fields, anisotropy, and thermalization in quantum systems.
Main Methods:
- Exact numerical diagonalization was employed to study the quantum spin chain dynamics.
- The system incorporated a non-uniform magnetic field and single-ion anisotropy.
- Analysis focused on thermalization suppression and localization phenomena.
Main Results:
- A nearly constant-gradient magnetic field was found to suppress thermalization, inducing Stark many-body localization (SMBL).
- Single-ion anisotropy alone was sufficient to prevent thermalization.
- Competing magnetic field and anisotropy favored delocalization, though anisotropy offered an alternative localization mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Single-ion anisotropy can induce localization through mechanisms beyond SMBL, involving local energetic constraints and degenerate eigenstate resonances.
- The findings offer insights into SMBL and suggest new avenues for experimental research on localized quantum systems.
- This work enriches the understanding of disordered free localized quantum systems.
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