When a system is driven across a continuous phase transition, the density of topological defects demonstrates a power-law scaling behavior versus the quenching rate, as predicted by Kibble-Zurek mechanism. In this study, we generalized this idea and address the scaling of quantum state transport in a one-dimensional topological system subject to a linear drive through its topological quantum phase transition point. We illustrate the power-law dependencies of the quantum state's transport distance, width, and peak magnitude on the driving velocity. Crucially, the power-law exponents are distinct for the edge state and bulk state. Our results offer a novel perspective on quantum state transfer and enriches the field of Kibble-Zurek behaviors and nonadiabatic quantum dynamics.When a system is driven across a continuous phase transition, the density of topological defects demonstrates a power-law scaling behavior versus the quenching rate, as predicted by Kibble-Zurek mechanism. In this study, we generalized this idea and address the scaling of quantum state transport in a one-dimensional topological system subject to a linear drive through its topological quantum phase transition point. We illustrate the power-law dependencies of the quantum state's transport distance, width, and peak magnitude on the driving velocity. Crucially, the power-law exponents are distinct for the edge state and bulk state. Our results offer a novel perspective on quantum state transfer and enriches the field of Kibble-Zurek behaviors and nonadiabatic quantum dynamics.

arXiv:2406.18016Jun 26, 20240 citations

Universal Dynamics of Inhomogeneous Quantum Phase Transitions: Suppressing Defect Formation

Fernando J. Gómez-Ruiz, Adolfo del Campo

In the nonadiabatic dynamics across a quantum phase transition, the Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts that the formation of topological defects is suppressed as a universal power law with the quench time. In inhomogeneous systems, the critical point is reached locally and causality reduces the effective system size for defect formation to regions where the velocity of the critical front is slower than the sound velocity, favoring adiabatic dynamics. The reduced density of excitations exhibits a much steeper dependence on the quench rate and is also described by a universal power law that we demonstrated in a quantum Ising chain.In the nonadiabatic dynamics across a quantum phase transition, the Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts that the formation of topological defects is suppressed as a universal power law with the quench time. In inhomogeneous systems, the critical point is reached locally and causality reduces the effective system size for defect formation to regions where the velocity of the critical front is slower than the sound velocity, favoring adiabatic dynamics. The reduced density of excitations exhibits a much steeper dependence on the quench rate and is also described by a universal power law that we demonstrated in a quantum Ising chain.

arXiv:1805.00525Physical Review LettersMar 1, 201946 citations

Separation of the Kibble-Zurek Mechanism from Quantum Criticality

R. Jafari, Alireza Akbari

When a system is swept through a quantum critical point (QCP), the Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts that the average number of topological defects follows a universal power-law scaling with the ramp time scale. This scaling behavior is determined by the equilibrium critical exponents of the underlying phase transition. We show that the correspondence between Kibble-Zurek scaling and quantum criticality does not hold generally. In particular, the defect density can exhibit a suppression faster than the Kibble-Zurek prediction even when the quench crosses a critical point, while conventional Kibble-Zurek scaling may persist for quenches through a non-critical point. Our results, based on models representative of a broad class of quasi-one-dimensional Fermi systems, identify the dynamical conditions under which universal defect scaling emerges and clarify the relation between defect generation and equilibrium criticality.When a system is swept through a quantum critical point (QCP), the Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts that the average number of topological defects follows a universal power-law scaling with the ramp time scale. This scaling behavior is determined by the equilibrium critical exponents of the underlying phase transition. We show that the correspondence between Kibble-Zurek scaling and quantum criticality does not hold generally. In particular, the defect density can exhibit a suppression faster than the Kibble-Zurek prediction even when the quench crosses a critical point, while conventional Kibble-Zurek scaling may persist for quenches through a non-critical point. Our results, based on models representative of a broad class of quasi-one-dimensional Fermi systems, identify the dynamical conditions under which universal defect scaling emerges and clarify the relation between defect generation and equilibrium criticality.

cond-mat.stat-mechCross-listedarXiv:2602.19865Physical Review ResearchFeb 24, 20263 citations

Topological Defects from Quantum Reset Dynamics

R. Jafari, Henrik Johannesson, Sebastian Eggert

We analyze mechanisms for universal out-of-equilibrium dynamics near criticality by exploring the effect of randomized quantum resetting (QR) under a finite-time quench across a quantum phase transition. Using the transverse-field Ising chain as a generic model and exploiting its exact solution, QR is found to cause a crossover of the scaling of the topological defect density with the time scale $τ$ of the quench, from Kibble-Zurek to anti-Kibble-Zurek scaling as $τ$ increases. This reflects a competition between non-adiabatic quench-driven excitations and QR, giving rise to local minima of the defect densities at optimal annealing times. These times and the corresponding local minima are shown to scale as universal power laws with the rate of QR. Additional results for the scaling of the mean excess energy suggest that a system driven across a quantum critical point exhibits the same scaling behavior under a linear quench with QR as with uncorrelated noise.We analyze mechanisms for universal out-of-equilibrium dynamics near criticality by exploring the effect of randomized quantum resetting (QR) under a finite-time quench across a quantum phase transition. Using the transverse-field Ising chain as a generic model and exploiting its exact solution, QR is found to cause a crossover of the scaling of the topological defect density with the time scale $τ$ of the quench, from Kibble-Zurek to anti-Kibble-Zurek scaling as $τ$ increases. This reflects a competition between non-adiabatic quench-driven excitations and QR, giving rise to local minima of the defect densities at optimal annealing times. These times and the corresponding local minima are shown to scale as universal power laws with the rate of QR. Additional results for the scaling of the mean excess energy suggest that a system driven across a quantum critical point exhibits the same scaling behavior under a linear quench with QR as with uncorrelated noise.

cond-mat.stat-mechCross-listedarXiv:2602.00230Physical review. B./Physical review. BFeb 3, 20262 citations

Separation of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism from quantum criticality

Rouhollah Jafari, Alireza Akbari

When a system is swept through a quantum critical point, the Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts that the average number of topological defects follows a universal power-law scaling with the ramp timescale. This scaling behavior is determined by the equilibrium critical exponents of the underlying phase transition. We show that the correspondence between Kibble-Zurek scaling and quantum criticality does not hold generally. In particular, the defect density can exhibit a suppression faster than the Kibble-Zurek prediction even when the quench crosses a critical point, while conventional Kibble-Zurek scaling may persist for quenches through a noncritical point. Our results, based on models representative of a broad class of quasi-one-dimensional Fermi systems, identify the dynamical conditions under which universal defect scaling emerges and clarify the relation between defect generation and equilibrium criticality. © 2026 authors. Published by the American Physical Society.When a system is swept through a quantum critical point, the Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts that the average number of topological defects follows a universal power-law scaling with the ramp timescale. This scaling behavior is determined by the equilibrium critical exponents of the underlying phase transition. We show that the correspondence between Kibble-Zurek scaling and quantum criticality does not hold generally. In particular, the defect density can exhibit a suppression faster than the Kibble-Zurek prediction even when the quench crosses a critical point, while conventional Kibble-Zurek scaling may persist for quenches through a noncritical point. Our results, based on models representative of a broad class of quasi-one-dimensional Fermi systems, identify the dynamical conditions under which universal defect scaling emerges and clarify the relation between defect generation and equilibrium criticality. © 2026 authors. Published by the American Physical Society.

May 13, 20260 citations

Kibble-Zurek Behavior in the Boundary-obstructed Phase Transitions

Menghua Deng, Zhoujian Sun, Fuxiang Li

We study the nonadiabatic dynamics of a two-dimensional higher-order topological insulator when the system is slowly quenched across the boundary-obstructed phase transition, which is characterized by edge band gap closing. We find that the number of excitations produced after the quench exhibits power-law scaling behaviors with the quench rate. Boundary conditions can drastically modify the scaling behaviors: The scaling exponent is found to be $α=1/2$ for hybridized and fully open boundary conditions, and $α=2$ for periodic boundary condition. We argue that the exponent $α=1/2$ cannot be explained by the Kibble-Zurek mechanism unless we adopt an effective dimension $d^{\rm eff}=1$ instead of the real dimension $d=2$ . For comparison, we also investigate the slow quench dynamics across the bulk-obstructed phase transitions and a single multicritical point, which obeys the Kibble-Zurek mechanism with dimension $d=2$ .We study the nonadiabatic dynamics of a two-dimensional higher-order topological insulator when the system is slowly quenched across the boundary-obstructed phase transition, which is characterized by edge band gap closing. We find that the number of excitations produced after the quench exhibits power-law scaling behaviors with the quench rate. Boundary conditions can drastically modify the scaling behaviors: The scaling exponent is found to be $α=1/2$ for hybridized and fully open boundary conditions, and $α=2$ for periodic boundary condition. We argue that the exponent $α=1/2$ cannot be explained by the Kibble-Zurek mechanism unless we adopt an effective dimension $d^{\rm eff}=1$ instead of the real dimension $d=2$. For comparison, we also investigate the slow quench dynamics across the bulk-obstructed phase transitions and a single multicritical point, which obeys the Kibble-Zurek mechanism with dimension $d=2$.

arXiv:2407.18256Jul 11, 20240 citations

τ

of the quench, from Kibble-Zurek to anti-Kibble-Zurek scaling as

τ

increases. This reflects a competition between non-adiabatic quench-driven excitations and QR, giving rise to local minima of the defect densities at optimal annealing times. These times and the corresponding local minima are shown to scale as universal power laws with the rate of QR. Additional results for the scaling of the mean excess energy suggest that a system driven across a quantum critical point exhibits the same scaling behavior under a linear quench with QR as with uncorrelated noise.

α=1/2

for hybridized and fully open boundary conditions, and

α=2

for periodic boundary condition. We argue that the exponent

α=1/2

cannot be explained by the Kibble-Zurek mechanism unless we adopt an effective dimension

d^{\rm eff}=1

instead of the real dimension

d=2

. For comparison, we also investigate the slow quench dynamics across the bulk-obstructed phase transitions and a single multicritical point, which obeys the Kibble-Zurek mechanism with dimension

d=2