We show that, contrary to previous suggestions based on computer simulations or erroneous theoretical treatments, the critical points of the random-field Ising model out of equilibrium, when quasistatically changing the applied source at zero temperature, and in equilibrium are not in the same universality class below some critical dimension ${d}_{DR}\ensuremath{\approx}5.1$. We demonstrate this by implementing a nonperturbative functional renormalization group for the associated dynamical field theory. Above ${d}_{DR}$ , the avalanches, which characterize the evolution of the system at zero temperature, become irrelevant at large distance, and hysteresis and equilibrium critical points are then controlled by the same fixed point. We explain how to use computer simulation and finite-size scaling to check the correspondence between in and out of equilibrium criticality in a far less ambiguous way than done so far.We show that, contrary to previous suggestions based on computer simulations or erroneous theoretical treatments, the critical points of the random-field Ising model out of equilibrium, when quasistatically changing the applied source at zero temperature, and in equilibrium are not in the same universality class below some critical dimension ${d}_{DR}\ensuremath{\approx}5.1$. We demonstrate this by implementing a nonperturbative functional renormalization group for the associated dynamical field theory. Above ${d}_{DR}$, the avalanches, which characterize the evolution of the system at zero temperature, become irrelevant at large distance, and hysteresis and equilibrium critical points are then controlled by the same fixed point. We explain how to use computer simulation and finite-size scaling to check the correspondence between in and out of equilibrium criticality in a far less ambiguous way than done so far.

arXiv:1710.04032Physical review. B./Physical review. BMar 15, 201844 citations

Study of phase transitions from short-time non-equilibrium behaviour

Ezequiel Vicente Albano, M. A. Bab, Gabriel Baglietto +6 more

We review recent progress in the understanding of phase transitions and critical phenomena, obtained by means of numerical simulations of the early dynamic evolution of systems prepared at well-specified initial conditions. This field has seen exhaustive scientific research during the last decade, when the renormalization-group (RG) theoretical results obtained at the end of the 1980s were applied to the interpretation of dynamic Monte Carlo simulation results. While the original RG theory is restricted to critical phenomena under equilibrium conditions, numerical simulations have been applied to the study of far-from-equilibrium systems and irreversible phase transitions, the investigation of the behaviour of spinodal points close to first-order phase transitions and the understanding of the early-time evolution of self-organized criticality (SOC) systems when released far form the SOC regime. The present review intends to provide a comprehensive overview of recent applications in those fields, which can give the flavour of the main ideas, methods and results, and to discuss the directions for further studies. All of these numerical results pose new and interesting theoretical challenges that remain as open questions to be addressed by new research in the coming years.We review recent progress in the understanding of phase transitions and critical phenomena, obtained by means of numerical simulations of the early dynamic evolution of systems prepared at well-specified initial conditions. This field has seen exhaustive scientific research during the last decade, when the renormalization-group (RG) theoretical results obtained at the end of the 1980s were applied to the interpretation of dynamic Monte Carlo simulation results. While the original RG theory is restricted to critical phenomena under equilibrium conditions, numerical simulations have been applied to the study of far-from-equilibrium systems and irreversible phase transitions, the investigation of the behaviour of spinodal points close to first-order phase transitions and the understanding of the early-time evolution of self-organized criticality (SOC) systems when released far form the SOC regime. The present review intends to provide a comprehensive overview of recent applications in those fields, which can give the flavour of the main ideas, methods and results, and to discuss the directions for further studies. All of these numerical results pose new and interesting theoretical challenges that remain as open questions to be addressed by new research in the coming years.

Reports on Progress in PhysicsJan 14, 2011112 citations

Universal Symmetry-Breaking Dynamics at Continuous Phase Transitions: Evidence for a New Dynamical Critical Exponent

Tobias Wiener, Laurin Brunner, Markus Heyl

Uncovering and understanding universal dynamics in matter far from equilibrium remains a key challenge. In this work, we identify a so far unrecognized form of universal behavior that emerges after a sudden symmetry-breaking quench at continuous phase transitions. Our key observation is that the order-parameter fluctuations in Ising models exhibit a compelling temporal collapse across a wide range of system sizes and quench strengths, indicative of an emergent single-variable scaling form. This phenomenon can be explained by introducing a so far unknown dynamical critical exponent for the underlying continuous phase transition. We find evidence for a lower critical effective dimension of this universal regime: it is observed in the 2D quantum and 3D and 4D classical Ising models, but not in the 1D quantum or 2D classical cases. Our results suggest that our observed universal far-from-equilibrium scaling may extend beyond the Ising models studied here and could more broadly characterize systems with non-conserved order parameters, opening new avenues for exploring universal dynamics both theoretically and in current experimental platforms.Uncovering and understanding universal dynamics in matter far from equilibrium remains a key challenge. In this work, we identify a so far unrecognized form of universal behavior that emerges after a sudden symmetry-breaking quench at continuous phase transitions. Our key observation is that the order-parameter fluctuations in Ising models exhibit a compelling temporal collapse across a wide range of system sizes and quench strengths, indicative of an emergent single-variable scaling form. This phenomenon can be explained by introducing a so far unknown dynamical critical exponent for the underlying continuous phase transition. We find evidence for a lower critical effective dimension of this universal regime: it is observed in the 2D quantum and 3D and 4D classical Ising models, but not in the 1D quantum or 2D classical cases. Our results suggest that our observed universal far-from-equilibrium scaling may extend beyond the Ising models studied here and could more broadly characterize systems with non-conserved order parameters, opening new avenues for exploring universal dynamics both theoretically and in current experimental platforms.

quant-pharXiv:2605.07753May 11, 20260 citations

{d}_{DR}

, the avalanches, which characterize the evolution of the system at zero temperature, become irrelevant at large distance, and hysteresis and equilibrium critical points are then controlled by the same fixed point. We explain how to use computer simulation and finite-size scaling to check the correspondence between in and out of equilibrium criticality in a far less ambiguous way than done so far.