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Open-system eigenstate thermalization in a noninteracting integrable model
Krzysztof Ptaszyński1,2, Massimiliano Esposito1
1University of Luxembourg, Complex Systems and Statistical Mechanics, Department of Physics and Materials Science, L-1511 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Physical Review. E
|February 20, 2025
Summary
System observables thermalize in integrable quantum systems coupled to a bath, even in typical eigenstates. This weak eigenstate thermalization occurs unless strong coupling causes localization, challenging nonintegrability as the sole driver of thermalization.
Area of Science:
- Quantum mechanics
- Statistical mechanics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Investigating thermalization in isolated quantum systems is crucial for understanding statistical mechanics.
- Eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) explains thermalization in complex quantum systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore thermalization in an integrable open quantum system from a single fermionic level coupled to a fermionic bath.
- To investigate weak eigenstate thermalization in such systems and its dependence on coupling strength.
- To determine if thermalization occurs when the bath is initialized in a typical eigenstate.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a single fermionic level coupled to a macroscopic fermionic bath.
- Examination of system observables in typical eigenstates of the combined Hamiltonian.
- Study of system dynamics following a quench of the system Hamiltonian.
Main Results:
- System observables exhibit thermalization in typical eigenstates, a phenomenon termed weak eigenstate thermalization.
- Thermalization persists even in this fully integrable system, unless suppressed by localization from strong coupling.
- System occupancy relaxes to thermal values post-quench, and thermalization arises from a bath in a typical eigenstate.
Conclusions:
- Nonintegrability is not the sole requirement for thermalization in quantum systems.
- Open quantum systems and weak eigenstate thermalization offer complementary perspectives on statistical mechanics.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the emergence of statistical mechanics.
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