Prethermalization and glassiness in the bosonic Hubbard model

We investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of the bosonic Hubbard model starting from inhomogeneous superfluid or Mott insulator initial states using the truncated Wigner approximation (TWA). We find that the relaxation of the system develops in two steps for sufficiently large interaction strengths: after a fast relaxation the system gets caught in metastable prethermalized states that precede the true equilibrium state. We find that the lifetime of these prethermalized states increases by several orders of magnitude as we increase the on-site interaction strength beyond a threshold value. We show that the emergence of long-lived metastable states in the quantum dynamics is associated with an ergodic (active) to nonergodic (inactive) dynamical phase transition in the ensemble of classical trajectories that contribute to the semiclassical limit. This dynamical phase transition, which is very similar to that found in different classical models of glasses, is closely related to the dynamic heterogeneity of the classical relaxation.We investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of the bosonic Hubbard model starting from inhomogeneous superfluid or Mott insulator initial states using the truncated Wigner approximation (TWA). We find that the relaxation of the system develops in two steps for sufficiently large interaction strengths: after a fast relaxation the system gets caught in metastable prethermalized states that precede the true equilibrium state. We find that the lifetime of these prethermalized states increases by several orders of magnitude as we increase the on-site interaction strength beyond a threshold value. We show that the emergence of long-lived metastable states in the quantum dynamics is associated with an ergodic (active) to nonergodic (inactive) dynamical phase transition in the ensemble of classical trajectories that contribute to the semiclassical limit. This dynamical phase transition, which is very similar to that found in different classical models of glasses, is closely related to the dynamic heterogeneity of the classical relaxation.

arXiv:1502.07936Physical Review AJun 2, 20150 citations

Hierarchical relaxation dynamics in a tilted two-band Bose-Hubbard model

Jayson G. Cosme

We numerically examine slow and hierarchical relaxation dynamics of interacting bosons described by a tilted two-band Bose-Hubbard model. The system is found to exhibit signatures of quantum chaos within the spectrum and the validity of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis for relevant physical observables is demonstrated for certain parameter regimes. Using the truncated Wigner representation in the semiclassical limit of the system, dynamics of relevant observables reveal hierarchical relaxation and the appearance of prethermalized states is studied from the perspective of statistics of the underlying mean-field trajectories. The observed prethermalization scenario can be attributed to different stages of glassy dynamics in the mode-time configuration space due to dynamical phase transition between ergodic and nonergodic trajectories.We numerically examine slow and hierarchical relaxation dynamics of interacting bosons described by a tilted two-band Bose-Hubbard model. The system is found to exhibit signatures of quantum chaos within the spectrum and the validity of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis for relevant physical observables is demonstrated for certain parameter regimes. Using the truncated Wigner representation in the semiclassical limit of the system, dynamics of relevant observables reveal hierarchical relaxation and the appearance of prethermalized states is studied from the perspective of statistics of the underlying mean-field trajectories. The observed prethermalization scenario can be attributed to different stages of glassy dynamics in the mode-time configuration space due to dynamical phase transition between ergodic and nonergodic trajectories.

arXiv:1803.02909Physical Review AApr 11, 20186 citations

Quench-induced dynamical phase transitions and π -synchronization in the Bose-Hubbard model

Andrea Pizzi, Fabrizio Dolcini, Karyn Le Hur

We investigate the nonequilibrium behavior of a fully connected (or all-to-all coupled) Bose-Hubbard model after a Mott to superfluid quench, in the limit of large boson densities and for an arbitrary number $V$ of lattice sites, with potential relevance in experiments ranging from cold atoms to superconducting qubits. By means of the truncated Wigner approximation, we predict that crossing a critical quench strength the system undergoes a dynamical phase transition between two regimes that are characterized at long times either by an inhomogeneous population of the lattice (i.e., macroscopical self-trapping) or by the tendency of the mean-field bosonic variables to split into two groups with phase difference $\ensuremath{\pi}$, that we refer to as $\ensuremath{\pi}$-synchronization. We show the latter process to be intimately connected to the presence, only for $V\ensuremath{\ge}4$, of a manifold of infinitely many fixed points of the dynamical equations. Finally, we show that no fine-tuning of the model parameters is needed for the emergence of such $\ensuremath{\pi}$-synchronization, that is in fact found to vanish smoothly in presence of an increasing site-dependent disorder, in what we call a synchronization crossover.We investigate the nonequilibrium behavior of a fully connected (or all-to-all coupled) Bose-Hubbard model after a Mott to superfluid quench, in the limit of large boson densities and for an arbitrary number $V$ of lattice sites, with potential relevance in experiments ranging from cold atoms to superconducting qubits. By means of the truncated Wigner approximation, we predict that crossing a critical quench strength the system undergoes a dynamical phase transition between two regimes that are characterized at long times either by an inhomogeneous population of the lattice (i.e., macroscopical self-trapping) or by the tendency of the mean-field bosonic variables to split into two groups with phase difference $\ensuremath{\pi}$, that we refer to as $\ensuremath{\pi}$-synchronization. We show the latter process to be intimately connected to the presence, only for $V\ensuremath{\ge}4$, of a manifold of infinitely many fixed points of the dynamical equations. Finally, we show that no fine-tuning of the model parameters is needed for the emergence of such $\ensuremath{\pi}$-synchronization, that is in fact found to vanish smoothly in presence of an increasing site-dependent disorder, in what we call a synchronization crossover.

arXiv:1810.12414Physical review. B./Physical review. BMar 4, 201911 citations

Localization and Glassy Dynamics Of Many-Body Quantum Systems

Giuseppe Carleo, Federico Becca, Marco Schirò +1 more

When classical systems fail to explore their entire configurational space, intriguing macroscopic phenomena like aging and glass formation may emerge. Also closed quanto-mechanical systems may stop wandering freely around the whole Hilbert space, even if they are initially prepared into a macroscopically large combination of eigenstates. Here, we report numerical evidences that the dynamics of strongly interacting lattice bosons driven sufficiently far from equilibrium can be trapped into extremely long-lived inhomogeneous metastable states. The slowing down of incoherent density excitations above a threshold energy, much reminiscent of a dynamical arrest on the verge of a glass transition, is identified as the key feature of this phenomenon. We argue that the resulting long-lived inhomogeneities are responsible for the lack of thermalization observed in large systems. Such a rich phenomenology could be experimentally uncovered upon probing the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of conveniently prepared quantum states of trapped cold atoms which we hereby suggest.When classical systems fail to explore their entire configurational space, intriguing macroscopic phenomena like aging and glass formation may emerge. Also closed quanto-mechanical systems may stop wandering freely around the whole Hilbert space, even if they are initially prepared into a macroscopically large combination of eigenstates. Here, we report numerical evidences that the dynamics of strongly interacting lattice bosons driven sufficiently far from equilibrium can be trapped into extremely long-lived inhomogeneous metastable states. The slowing down of incoherent density excitations above a threshold energy, much reminiscent of a dynamical arrest on the verge of a glass transition, is identified as the key feature of this phenomenon. We argue that the resulting long-lived inhomogeneities are responsible for the lack of thermalization observed in large systems. Such a rich phenomenology could be experimentally uncovered upon probing the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of conveniently prepared quantum states of trapped cold atoms which we hereby suggest.

arXiv:1109.2516Scientific ReportsFeb 6, 2012209 citations

Semiclassical dynamics of a disordered two-dimensional Hubbard model with long-range interactions

Adam S. Sajna, Anatoli Polkovnikov

Quench dynamics in a two-dimensional system of interacting fermions is analyzed within the semiclassical truncated Wigner approximation (TWA). The models with short-range and long-range interactions are considered. We show that in the latter case, the TWA is very accurate, becoming asymptotically exact in the infinite-range limit, provided that the semiclassical Hamiltonian is correctly identified. Within the TWA, different dynamical timescales of charges and spins can be clearly distinguished. Interestingly, for a weak and moderate disorder strength, we observe subdiffusive behavior of charges, while spins exhibit diffusive dynamics. At strong disorder, the quantum Fisher information shows logarithmic growth in time with a slower increase for charges than for spins. It is shown that in contrast to the short-range model, strong inhomogeneities such as domain walls in the initial state can significantly slow down thermalization dynamics, especially at weak disorder. This behavior can put additional challenges in designing cold-atom experimental protocols aimed to analyze possible many-body localization in such systems. While within this approach we cannot make any definite statements about the existence of a many-body localized phase, we see a very fast crossover as a function of disorder strength from rapidly thermalizing to a slow glassylike regime both for the short-range and long-range models.Quench dynamics in a two-dimensional system of interacting fermions is analyzed within the semiclassical truncated Wigner approximation (TWA). The models with short-range and long-range interactions are considered. We show that in the latter case, the TWA is very accurate, becoming asymptotically exact in the infinite-range limit, provided that the semiclassical Hamiltonian is correctly identified. Within the TWA, different dynamical timescales of charges and spins can be clearly distinguished. Interestingly, for a weak and moderate disorder strength, we observe subdiffusive behavior of charges, while spins exhibit diffusive dynamics. At strong disorder, the quantum Fisher information shows logarithmic growth in time with a slower increase for charges than for spins. It is shown that in contrast to the short-range model, strong inhomogeneities such as domain walls in the initial state can significantly slow down thermalization dynamics, especially at weak disorder. This behavior can put additional challenges in designing cold-atom experimental protocols aimed to analyze possible many-body localization in such systems. While within this approach we cannot make any definite statements about the existence of a many-body localized phase, we see a very fast crossover as a function of disorder strength from rapidly thermalizing to a slow glassylike regime both for the short-range and long-range models.

arXiv:2002.05549Physical Review ASep 28, 202013 citations

Semiclassical quench dynamics of Bose gases in optical lattices

Kazuma Nagao, Masaya Kunimi, Yosuke Takasu +2 more

We analyze the time evolution of the Bose-Hubbard model after a sudden quantum quench to a weakly interacting regime. Specifically, motivated by a recent experiment at Kyoto University, we numerically simulate redistribution of the kinetic and on-site interaction energies at an early time, which was observed in nonequilibrium dynamics of ultracold Bose gases in a cubic optical lattice starting with a singly occupied Mott-insulator state. In order to compute the short-time dynamics corresponding to the experimental situation, we apply the truncated-Wigner approximation to the Bose-Hubbard model on a cubic lattice. We show that our semiclassical approach quantitatively reproduces the fast redistribution dynamics. We further analyze spatial spreading of density-density correlations at equal time in the Bose-Hubbard model on a square lattice with a large filling factor. When the system is initially prepared in a coherent state, we find that a propagation velocity of the correlation wave packet in the correlation function strongly depends on the final interaction strength, and it is bounded by twice the maximum group velocity of the elementary excitations. In contrast, when the system is initially in a Mott-insulator state, the propagation velocity of the wave packet is approximately independent of the final interaction strength.We analyze the time evolution of the Bose-Hubbard model after a sudden quantum quench to a weakly interacting regime. Specifically, motivated by a recent experiment at Kyoto University, we numerically simulate redistribution of the kinetic and on-site interaction energies at an early time, which was observed in nonequilibrium dynamics of ultracold Bose gases in a cubic optical lattice starting with a singly occupied Mott-insulator state. In order to compute the short-time dynamics corresponding to the experimental situation, we apply the truncated-Wigner approximation to the Bose-Hubbard model on a cubic lattice. We show that our semiclassical approach quantitatively reproduces the fast redistribution dynamics. We further analyze spatial spreading of density-density correlations at equal time in the Bose-Hubbard model on a square lattice with a large filling factor. When the system is initially prepared in a coherent state, we find that a propagation velocity of the correlation wave packet in the correlation function strongly depends on the final interaction strength, and it is bounded by twice the maximum group velocity of the elementary excitations. In contrast, when the system is initially in a Mott-insulator state, the propagation velocity of the wave packet is approximately independent of the final interaction strength.

arXiv:1810.04347Physical Review AFeb 20, 201921 citations

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of lattice sites, with potential relevance in experiments ranging from cold atoms to superconducting qubits. By means of the truncated Wigner approximation, we predict that crossing a critical quench strength the system undergoes a dynamical phase transition between two regimes that are characterized at long times either by an inhomogeneous population of the lattice (i.e., macroscopical self-trapping) or by the tendency of the mean-field bosonic variables to split into two groups with phase difference $\ensuremath{\pi}$, that we refer to as $\ensuremath{\pi}$-synchronization. We show the latter process to be intimately connected to the presence, only for $V\ensuremath{\ge}4$, of a manifold of infinitely many fixed points of the dynamical equations. Finally, we show that no fine-tuning of the model parameters is needed for the emergence of such $\ensuremath{\pi}$-synchronization, that is in fact found to vanish smoothly in presence of an increasing site-dependent disorder, in what we call a synchronization crossover.