Dynamical topological order parameters far from equilibrium

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jan Carl Budich - , Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Innsbruck (Author)
  • Markus Heyl - , Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Innsbruck (Author)

Abstract

We introduce a topological quantum number - coined dynamical topological order parameter (DTOP) - that is dynamically defined in the real-time evolution of a quantum many-body system and represented by a momentum space winding number of the Pancharatnam geometric phase. Our construction goes conceptually beyond the standard notion of topological invariants characterizing the wave function of a system, which are constants of motion under coherent time evolution. In particular, we show that the DTOP can change its integer value at discrete times where so called dynamical quantum phase transitions occur, thus serving as a dynamical analog of an order parameter. Interestingly, studying quantum quenches in one-dimensional two-banded Bogoliubov-de Gennes models, we find that the DTOP is capable of resolving if the topology of the system Hamiltonian has changed over the quench. Furthermore, we investigate the relation of the DTOP to the dynamics of the string order parameter that characterizes the topology of such systems in thermal equilibrium.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number085416
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume93
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 10 Feb 2016
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes