Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:hep-ph/9805360

Time evolution of correlation functions for classical and quantum anharmonic oscillators

Luís M. A. Bettencourt, CHRISTOF WETTERICH

Published May 18, 1998• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The time evolution of the correlation functions of an ensemble of anharmonic N-component oscillators with O(N) symmetry is described by a flow equation, exact up to corrections of order $1/N^2$. We find effective irreversibility. Nevertheless, analytical and numerical investigation reveals that the system does not reach thermal equilibrium for large times, even when $N\to \infty$. Depending on the initial distribution, the dynamics is asymptotically stable or it exhibits growing modes which break the conditions for the validity of the 1/N expansion for large time. We investigate both classical and quantum systems, the latter being the limit of an O(N) symmetric scalar quantum field theory in zero spatial dimensions.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.hep-ph/9805360

Related papers

Time evolution of correlation functions and thermalization

Gian Franco Bonini, CHRISTOF WETTERICH

We investigate the time evolution of a classical ensemble of isolated periodic chains of $O(N)$-symmetric anharmonic oscillators. Our method is based on an exact evolution equation for the time dependence of correlation functions. We discuss its solutions in an approximation which retains all contributions in next-to-leading order in a $1/N$ expansion and preserves time reflection symmetry. We observe effective irreversibility and approximate thermalization. At large time the system approaches stationary solutions in the vicinity of, but not identical to, thermal equilibrium. The ensemble therefore retains some memory of the initial condition beyond the conserved total energy. Such behavior with incomplete thermalization is referred to as ``mesoscopic dynamics.'' It is expected for systems in a small volume. Surprisingly, we find that the nonthermal asymptotic stationary solutions do not change for large volume. This raises questions on Boltzmann's conjecture that macroscopic isolated systems thermalize.

arXiv:hep-ph/9907533•Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields•Oct 25, 1999•29 citations

Thermalization of quantum fields from time-reversal invariant evolution equations

Jürgen Berges, J. Cox

We study the time evolution of correlation functions in closed quantum systems for nonequilibrium ensembles of initial conditions. For a scalar quantum field theory we show that generic time-reversal invariant evolutions approach equilibrium at large times. The calculation provides a first principles justification that the large-time behavior of closed macroscopic quantum systems can be effectively described by thermal ensemble averages.

arXiv:hep-ph/0006160•Physics Letters B•Oct 1, 2001•184 citations

Classical Aspects of Quantum Fields Far from Equilibrium

Gert Aarts A, Jürgen Berges

We consider the time evolution of nonequilibrium quantum scalar fields in the O(N) model, using the next-to-leading order 1/N expansion of the two-particle irreducible effective action. A comparison with exact numerical simulations in 1+1 dimensions in the classical limit shows that the 1/N expansion gives quantitatively precise results already for moderate values of N. For sufficiently high initial occupation numbers the time evolution of quantum fields is shown to be accurately described by classical physics. Eventually the correspondence breaks down due to the difference between classical and quantum thermal equilibrium.

arXiv:hep-ph/0107129•Physical Review Letters•Jan 15, 2002•181 citations

Dissipative Time Evolution of Observables in Non-equilibrium Statistical Quantum Systems

Herbert Nachbagauer

We discuss differential-- versus integral--equation based methods describing out--of thermal equilibrium systems and emphasize the importance of a well defined reduction to statistical observables. Applying the projection operator approach, we investigate on the time evolution of expectation values of linear and quadratic polynomials in position and momentum for a statistical anharmonic oscillator with quartic potential. Based on the exact integro-differential equations of motion, we study the first and naive second order approximation which breaks down at secular time-scales. A method is proposed to improve the expansion by a non--perturbative resummation of all quadratic operator correlators consistent with energy conservation for all times. Motion cannot be described by an effective Hamiltonian local in time reflecting non-unitarity of the dissipative entropy generating evolution. We numerically integrate the consistently improved equations of motion for large times. We relate entropy to the uncertainty product, both being expressible in terms of the observables under consideration.

•Jan 1, 1998•0 citations

On the dynamics of large-N O(N)-symmetric quantum systems at finite temperature

P. V. Buividovich

Time evolution of a perturbed thermal state is studied in a quantum-mechanical system with O(N) symmetry. In the limit of large N, time dependence of O(N)-singlet expectation values can be described by classical equations of motion in a one-dimensional potential well. Time dependence of the perturbation is then described by a linear differential equation with time-dependent periodic coefficient. This equation, depending on the parameters, admits either exponentially growing/decaying or periodically oscillating solutions. It is demonstrated that only the latter possibility is actually realized, thus in such a system there is no redistribution of initial perturbation over all N degrees of freedom.

arXiv:0903.4263•Mar 25, 2009•1 citation

Aspects of Non-Equilibrium Dynamics in Quantum Field Theory

Manfredini, E.

This work is devoted to the study of relaxation--dissipation processes in systems described by Quantum Field Theory. In the first part, I focus on the phi^4 scalar quantum field theory in finite volume in the large N limit. I find that the zero-mode quantum fluctuations cannot grow macroscopically large starting from microscopic initial conditions, while the long-wavelength fluctuations do scale with the linear size of the system, signalling dynamical infrared properties quite different from the equilibrium ones. I also introduce a non-gaussian Hartree-Fock approximation (tdHF) and I derive the mean-field coupled time-dependent Schroedinger equations for the modes of the scalar field. The dynamical evolution of a uniform condensate is studied in a further controlled gaussian approximation, for N=1. Results similar to the large N case show an internal inconsistency of this approximation. I also study the dynamics of the system in infinite volume in the broken symmetry phase. The data show that the fixed points of the evolution cover at most the classically metastable part of the static effective potential. I finally study the dynamical evolution for the O(N+1) nonlinear sigma model in 1+1 dimensions in the large N limit. I first of all verify that the large coupling limit of the O(N+1) phi^4 model, which renders the model non linear, commutes with the large N limit, so that the O(infty) nonlinear sigma model is uniquely defined. I then study the evolution of several observables, like the spectrum of produced particles, finding no evidence for parametric resonance. I conclude with some remarks on the ``state of art'' in gauge theories and some comments about the open issues in the subject.

arXiv:hep-ph/0101202•Jan 18, 2001•4 citations
The time evolution of the correlation functions of an ensemble of anharmonic N-component oscillators with O(N) symmetry is described by a flow equation, exact up to corrections of order 1/N21/N^21/N2. We find effective irreversibility. Nevertheless, analytical and numerical investigation reveals that the system does not reach thermal equilibrium for large times, even when N→∞N\to \inftyN→∞. Depending on the initial distribution, the dynamics is asymptotically stable or it exhibits growing modes which break the conditions for the validity of the 1/N expansion for large time. We investigate both classical and quantum systems, the latter being the limit of an O(N) symmetric scalar quantum field theory in zero spatial dimensions.
We investigate the time evolution of a classical ensemble of isolated periodic chains of O(N)O(N)O(N)-symmetric anharmonic oscillators. Our method is based on an exact evolution equation for the time dependence of correlation functions. We discuss its solutions in an approximation which retains all contributions in next-to-leading order in a 1/N1/N1/N expansion and preserves time reflection symmetry. We observe effective irreversibility and approximate thermalization. At large time the system approaches stationary solutions in the vicinity of, but not identical to, thermal equilibrium. The ensemble therefore retains some memory of the initial condition beyond the conserved total energy. Such behavior with incomplete thermalization is referred to as ``mesoscopic dynamics.'' It is expected for systems in a small volume. Surprisingly, we find that the nonthermal asymptotic stationary solutions do not change for large volume. This raises questions on Boltzmann's conjecture that macroscopic isolated systems thermalize.
We consider the time evolution of nonequilibrium quantum scalar fields in the O(N) model, using the next-to-leading order 1/N expansion of the two-particle irreducible effective action. A comparison with exact numerical simulations in 1+1 dimensions in the classical limit shows that the 1/N expansion gives quantitatively precise results already for moderate values of N. For sufficiently high initial occupation numbers the time evolution of quantum fields is shown to be accurately described by classical physics. Eventually the correspondence breaks down due to the difference between classical and quantum thermal equilibrium.
We discuss differential-- versus integral--equation based methods describing out--of thermal equilibrium systems and emphasize the importance of a well defined reduction to statistical observables. Applying the projection operator approach, we investigate on the time evolution of expectation values of linear and quadratic polynomials in position and momentum for a statistical anharmonic oscillator with quartic potential. Based on the exact integro-differential equations of motion, we study the first and naive second order approximation which breaks down at secular time-scales. A method is proposed to improve the expansion by a non--perturbative resummation of all quadratic operator correlators consistent with energy conservation for all times. Motion cannot be described by an effective Hamiltonian local in time reflecting non-unitarity of the dissipative entropy generating evolution. We numerically integrate the consistently improved equations of motion for large times. We relate entropy to the uncertainty product, both being expressible in terms of the observables under consideration.
Time evolution of a perturbed thermal state is studied in a quantum-mechanical system with O(N) symmetry. In the limit of large N, time dependence of O(N)-singlet expectation values can be described by classical equations of motion in a one-dimensional potential well. Time dependence of the perturbation is then described by a linear differential equation with time-dependent periodic coefficient. This equation, depending on the parameters, admits either exponentially growing/decaying or periodically oscillating solutions. It is demonstrated that only the latter possibility is actually realized, thus in such a system there is no redistribution of initial perturbation over all N degrees of freedom.
This work is devoted to the study of relaxation--dissipation processes in systems described by Quantum Field Theory. In the first part, I focus on the phi^4 scalar quantum field theory in finite volume in the large N limit. I find that the zero-mode quantum fluctuations cannot grow macroscopically large starting from microscopic initial conditions, while the long-wavelength fluctuations do scale with the linear size of the system, signalling dynamical infrared properties quite different from the equilibrium ones. I also introduce a non-gaussian Hartree-Fock approximation (tdHF) and I derive the mean-field coupled time-dependent Schroedinger equations for the modes of the scalar field. The dynamical evolution of a uniform condensate is studied in a further controlled gaussian approximation, for N=1. Results similar to the large N case show an internal inconsistency of this approximation. I also study the dynamics of the system in infinite volume in the broken symmetry phase. The data show that the fixed points of the evolution cover at most the classically metastable part of the static effective potential. I finally study the dynamical evolution for the O(N+1) nonlinear sigma model in 1+1 dimensions in the large N limit. I first of all verify that the large coupling limit of the O(N+1) phi^4 model, which renders the model non linear, commutes with the large N limit, so that the O(infty) nonlinear sigma model is uniquely defined. I then study the evolution of several observables, like the spectrum of produced particles, finding no evidence for parametric resonance. I conclude with some remarks on the ``state of art'' in gauge theories and some comments about the open issues in the subject.