We study the approach to equilibrium of a Bose gas to a superfluid state. We point out that dynamic scaling, characteristic of far from equilibrium phase-ordering systems, should hold. We stress the importance of a nondissipative Josephson precession term in driving the system to a new universality class. A model of coarsening in dimension d=2, involving a quench between two temperatures below the equilibrium superfluid transition temperature ( ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ ), is exactly solved and demonstrates the relevance of the Josephson term. Numerical results on quenches from above ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ in d=2,3 provide evidence for the scaling picture postulated. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.We study the approach to equilibrium of a Bose gas to a superfluid state. We point out that dynamic scaling, characteristic of far from equilibrium phase-ordering systems, should hold. We stress the importance of a nondissipative Josephson precession term in driving the system to a new universality class. A model of coarsening in dimension d=2, involving a quench between two temperatures below the equilibrium superfluid transition temperature (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$), is exactly solved and demonstrates the relevance of the Josephson term. Numerical results on quenches from above ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ in d=2,3 provide evidence for the scaling picture postulated. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

arXiv:cond-mat/9511058Physical Review ADec 1, 199696 citations

Universal coarsening of a two-dimensional Bose gas under conservative evolution

Andrew J. Groszek, T. P. Billam

We investigate the phase ordering dynamics of a uniform two-dimensional Bose gas quenched to a finite temperature in the superfluid phase. Starting from a defect-rich, far-from-equilibrium state, we model the subsequent evolution with the projected Gross-Pitaevskii equation, which conserves both energy and particle number. By tuning the initial energy, we control the effective post-quench temperature and examine its role in the equilibration dynamics. We find that the gas exhibits universal behaviour at all temperatures, evidenced by spatio-temporal scaling of correlation functions and power-law growth of the correlation length $\sim t^{1/z}$ , with $z$ the dynamical critical exponent. We find $z$ to be temperature dependent, with $z \approx 1.5$ for post-quench temperatures just below the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition, and $z \approx 1.9$ for quenches to near-zero temperature. Analysis of the Porod tail of the momentum distribution suggests a temperature-dependent competition between vortices and sound waves in the coarsening process. The two-time correlation function also exhibits universal scaling, decaying as $\sim t^{-λ/z}$ , with autocorrelation exponent $λ$ . Near the BKT transition we obtain $λ\approx 2$ , whereas $λ$ is found to diverge as the effective temperature approaches zero.We investigate the phase ordering dynamics of a uniform two-dimensional Bose gas quenched to a finite temperature in the superfluid phase. Starting from a defect-rich, far-from-equilibrium state, we model the subsequent evolution with the projected Gross-Pitaevskii equation, which conserves both energy and particle number. By tuning the initial energy, we control the effective post-quench temperature and examine its role in the equilibration dynamics. We find that the gas exhibits universal behaviour at all temperatures, evidenced by spatio-temporal scaling of correlation functions and power-law growth of the correlation length $\sim t^{1/z}$, with $z$ the dynamical critical exponent. We find $z$ to be temperature dependent, with $z \approx 1.5$ for post-quench temperatures just below the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition, and $z \approx 1.9$ for quenches to near-zero temperature. Analysis of the Porod tail of the momentum distribution suggests a temperature-dependent competition between vortices and sound waves in the coarsening process. The two-time correlation function also exhibits universal scaling, decaying as $\sim t^{-λ/z}$, with autocorrelation exponent $λ$. Near the BKT transition we obtain $λ\approx 2$, whereas $λ$ is found to diverge as the effective temperature approaches zero.

arXiv:2601.02687Jan 6, 20260 citations

Critical non-thermal fixed point and the dynamical condensation phase transition

Anne-Solène Bornens, Elisabeth Gliott, Nicolas Cherroret

Using a non-perturbative quantum kinetic framework, we develop a unified description of the far-from-equilibrium dynamics of three-dimensional Bose gases following cooling quenches across the Bose-Einstein condensation transition. By tracking the spatio-temporal evolution of the momentum distribution, we show that the equilibrium condensation threshold simultaneously acts as a dynamical critical point, separating distinct far-from-equilibrium universality classes governed by different non-equilibrium attractors. While quenches above the transition exhibit a single-timescale relaxation toward a thermal fixed point, quenches below the transition display a crossover from a transient weak-turbulence regime to a coarsening fixed point governed by the diffusive recombination of vortex lines. Quenches directly to the condensation threshold, finally, are controlled by a previously unidentified critical fixed point characterized by the superdiffusive spreading of critical fluctuations and a distinct set of dynamical exponents. Together, these dynamical scaling laws establish a far-from-equilibrium counterpart of the condensation phase transition, in which the equilibrium critical point also organizes the long-time non-equilibrium dynamics.Using a non-perturbative quantum kinetic framework, we develop a unified description of the far-from-equilibrium dynamics of three-dimensional Bose gases following cooling quenches across the Bose-Einstein condensation transition. By tracking the spatio-temporal evolution of the momentum distribution, we show that the equilibrium condensation threshold simultaneously acts as a dynamical critical point, separating distinct far-from-equilibrium universality classes governed by different non-equilibrium attractors. While quenches above the transition exhibit a single-timescale relaxation toward a thermal fixed point, quenches below the transition display a crossover from a transient weak-turbulence regime to a coarsening fixed point governed by the diffusive recombination of vortex lines. Quenches directly to the condensation threshold, finally, are controlled by a previously unidentified critical fixed point characterized by the superdiffusive spreading of critical fluctuations and a distinct set of dynamical exponents. Together, these dynamical scaling laws establish a far-from-equilibrium counterpart of the condensation phase transition, in which the equilibrium critical point also organizes the long-time non-equilibrium dynamics.

cond-mat.quant-gasCross-listedarXiv:2607.26620Jul 30, 20260 citations

Critical non-thermal fixed point and the dynamical condensation phase transition

Nicolas Cherroret, Anne-Solène Bornens, Elisabeth Gliott

Abstract Using a non-perturbative quantum kinetic framework, we develop a unified description of the far-from-equilibrium dynamics of three-dimensional Bose gases following cooling quenches across the Bose-Einstein condensation transition. By tracking the spatio-temporal evolution of the momentum distribution, we show that the equilibrium condensation threshold simultaneously acts as a dynamical critical point, separating distinct far-from-equilibrium universality classes governed by different non-equilibrium attractors. While quenches above the transition exhibit a single-timescale relaxation toward a thermal fixed point, quenches below the transition display a crossover from a transient weak-turbulence regime to a coarsening fixed point governed by the diffusive recombination of vortex lines. Quenches directly to the condensation threshold, finally, are controlled by a previously unidentified critical fixed point characterized by the superdiffusive spreading of critical fluctuations and a distinct set of dynamical exponents. Together, these dynamical scaling laws establish a far-from-equilibrium counterpart of the condensation phase transition, in which the equilibrium critical point also organizes the long-time non-equilibrium dynamics.Abstract Using a non-perturbative quantum kinetic framework, we develop a unified description of the far-from-equilibrium dynamics of three-dimensional Bose gases following cooling quenches across the Bose-Einstein condensation transition. By tracking the spatio-temporal evolution of the momentum distribution, we show that the equilibrium condensation threshold simultaneously acts as a dynamical critical point, separating distinct far-from-equilibrium universality classes governed by different non-equilibrium attractors. While quenches above the transition exhibit a single-timescale relaxation toward a thermal fixed point, quenches below the transition display a crossover from a transient weak-turbulence regime to a coarsening fixed point governed by the diffusive recombination of vortex lines. Quenches directly to the condensation threshold, finally, are controlled by a previously unidentified critical fixed point characterized by the superdiffusive spreading of critical fluctuations and a distinct set of dynamical exponents. Together, these dynamical scaling laws establish a far-from-equilibrium counterpart of the condensation phase transition, in which the equilibrium critical point also organizes the long-time non-equilibrium dynamics.

Aug 10, 20260 citations

Universal coarsening in a homogeneous two-dimensional Bose gas

Martin Gazo, Andrey Karailiev, Tanish Satoor +3 more

Coarsening of an isolated far-from-equilibrium quantum system is a paradigmatic many-body phenomenon, relevant from subnuclear to cosmological length scales and predicted to feature universal dynamic scaling. Here, we observed universal scaling in the coarsening of a homogeneous two-dimensional Bose gas, with exponents that match analytical predictions. For different initial states, we reveal universal scaling in the experimentally accessible finite-time dynamics by elucidating and accounting for the initial-state-dependent prescaling effects. The methods we introduce allow direct comparison between cold-atom experiments and nonequilibrium field theory and are applicable to any study of universality far from equilibrium.Coarsening of an isolated far-from-equilibrium quantum system is a paradigmatic many-body phenomenon, relevant from subnuclear to cosmological length scales and predicted to feature universal dynamic scaling. Here, we observed universal scaling in the coarsening of a homogeneous two-dimensional Bose gas, with exponents that match analytical predictions. For different initial states, we reveal universal scaling in the experimentally accessible finite-time dynamics by elucidating and accounting for the initial-state-dependent prescaling effects. The methods we introduce allow direct comparison between cold-atom experiments and nonequilibrium field theory and are applicable to any study of universality far from equilibrium.

arXiv:2312.09248ScienceAug 21, 202516 citations

From Quenches to Critical Dynamics and Non-Equilibrium Steady States: Universality in the Dynamics of Low-Dimensional Ultracold Bose Gases

Karl, Markus

In this thesis, we study numerically critical dynamics in the ultracold Bose gas in one and two spatial dimensions. We concentrate on two specific setups, both amenable for experimental realisation: Hamiltonian parameter quenches in a two-component Bose gas in one spatial dimension and a driven-dissipative single-component gas in two spatial \ndimensions. The setups are chosen to excite critical dynamics, either via quenches close to a quantum critical point or via nucleation of vortex defects. The goal is to identify critical scaling and universal scaling forms in the time evolution of the respective systems. The analysis for the two-component Bose gas reveals that short-time quench dynamics can be described by a universal crossover function, where the quench-induced energy appears as the relevant energy scale. For the single-component gas, we find a new universal phase of time evolution, characterised by an anomalously slow phase ordering process of vortex defects. We discuss our results in the light of concepts of prethermalisation, generalised Gibbs ensembles and non-thermal fixed points, for universal critical \nphenomena far from thermal equilibrium.In this thesis, we study numerically critical dynamics in the ultracold Bose gas in one and two spatial dimensions. We concentrate on two specific setups, both amenable for experimental realisation: Hamiltonian parameter quenches in a two-component Bose gas in one spatial dimension and a driven-dissipative single-component gas in two spatial \ndimensions. The setups are chosen to excite critical dynamics, either via quenches close to a quantum critical point or via nucleation of vortex defects. The goal is to identify critical scaling and universal scaling forms in the time evolution of the respective systems. The analysis for the two-component Bose gas reveals that short-time quench dynamics can be described by a universal crossover function, where the quench-induced energy appears as the relevant energy scale. For the single-component gas, we find a new universal phase of time evolution, characterised by an anomalously slow phase ordering process of vortex defects. We discuss our results in the light of concepts of prethermalisation, generalised Gibbs ensembles and non-thermal fixed points, for universal critical \nphenomena far from thermal equilibrium.

Jan 1, 20160 citations

{\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}

), is exactly solved and demonstrates the relevance of the Josephson term. Numerical results on quenches from above

{\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}

in d=2,3 provide evidence for the scaling picture postulated. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

\sim t^{1/z}

, with

z

the dynamical critical exponent. We find

z

to be temperature dependent, with

z \approx 1.5

for post-quench temperatures just below the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition, and

z \approx 1.9

for quenches to near-zero temperature. Analysis of the Porod tail of the momentum distribution suggests a temperature-dependent competition between vortices and sound waves in the coarsening process. The two-time correlation function also exhibits universal scaling, decaying as

\sim t^{-λ/z}

, with autocorrelation exponent

λ

. Near the BKT transition we obtain

λ\approx 2

, whereas

λ

is found to diverge as the effective temperature approaches zero.