Dynamical topological quantum phase transitions for mixed states

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • M. Heyl - , Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme (Autor:in)
  • J. C. Budich - , University of Gothenburg (Autor:in)

Abstract

We introduce and study the dynamical probes of band-structure topology in the postquench time evolution of quantum many-body systems initialized in mixed states. Our construction generalizes the notion of dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs), a real-time counterpart of conventional equilibrium phase transitions in quantum dynamics, to finite temperatures and generalized Gibbs ensembles. The nonanalytical signatures hallmarking these mixed-state DQPTs are found to be characterized by observable phase singularities manifesting in the dynamical formation of vortex-antivortex pairs in the interferometric phase of the density matrix. Studying quenches in Chern insulators, we find that changes in the topological properties of the Hamiltonian can be identified in this scenario, without ever preparing a topologically nontrivial or low-temperature initial state. Our observations are of immediate relevance for current experiments aimed at realizing topological phases in ultracold atomic gases.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer180304
FachzeitschriftPhysical Review B
Jahrgang96
Ausgabenummer18
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 21 Nov. 2017
Peer-Review-StatusJa
Extern publiziertJa