SciPost Submission Page
Extracting the symmetries of nonequilibrium quantum many-body systems
by Aleksandr N. Mikheev, Viktoria Noel, Ido Siovitz, Helmut Strobel, Markus K. Oberthaler, Jürgen Berges
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Aleksandr Mikheev · Viktoria Noel |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.17913v1 (pdf) |
| Date submitted: | 2024-09-09 20:06 |
| Submitted by: | Mikheev, Aleksandr |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
|---|---|
| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
|
| Approaches: | Theoretical, Experimental, Computational |
Abstract
Symmetries play a pivotal role in our understanding of the properties of quantum many-body systems. While there are theorems and a well-established toolbox for systems in thermal equilibrium, much less is known about the role of symmetries and their connection to dynamics out of equilibrium. This arises due to the direct link between a system's thermal state and its Hamiltonian, which is generally not the case for nonequilibrium dynamics. Here we present a pathway to identify the effective symmetries and to extract them from data in nonequilibrium quantum many-body systems. Our approach is based on exact relations between correlation functions involving different numbers of spatial points, which can be viewed as nonequilibrium versions of (equal-time) Ward identities encoding the symmetries of the system. We derive symmetry witnesses, which are particularly suitable for the analysis of measured or simulated data at different snapshots in time. To demonstrate the potential of the approach, we apply our method to numerical and experimental data for a spinor Bose gas. We investigate the important question of a dynamical restoration of an explicitly broken symmetry of the Hamiltonian by the initial state. Remarkably, it is found that effective symmetry restoration can occur long before the system equilibrates. We also use the approach to define and identify spontaneous symmetry breaking far from equilibrium, which is of great relevance for applications to nonequilibrium phase transitions. Our work opens new avenues for the classification and analysis of quantum as well as classical many-body dynamics in a large variety of systems, ranging from ultracold quantum gases to cosmology.
Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations
- Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
- Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
- Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
- Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block
Current status:
Reports on this Submission
Strengths
1-Adresses a relevant question that so far has received little attention
2-Introduces new tools that are of theoretical interest for the characterization of symmetries and can be implemented in current atomic experiments
Weaknesses
1-Sometimes ambiguous interpretation of symmetry witnesses (see report below for details)
Report
The manuscript introduces criteria that probe whether a given quantum state respects a specific type of symmetry. A framework is developed that can be applied to test the SO(2) symmetry of the spin dof of a spinor Bose-Einstein. From a moment generating function, correlation functions of different order are derived. This framework is applied to an SO(2) symmetric state whose symmetry-breaking can be revealed by applying a small bias field that afterwards tends to zero. The extent to which symmetry is broken is quantified in terms of so-called symmetry witnesses that are based on the L1 norm of the deviation from the fully symmetric expression. The methods are applied to theoretical and experimental data of spinor BECs.
Given the paramount importance of symmetries is all areas of modern quantum physics, the manuscript addresses an interesting and important question. The text is well written and the presentation is for the most part quite clear despite the rather technical content. Overall, I believe the work opens up an interesting avenue for further research and should be published. However, I have one concern that I believe should be addressed first:
My main concern is about the interpretation of the symmetry witnesses: If one such witness yields zero, one cannot conclude that the symmetry of the system is preserved/restored. It may well be that simply the low-order correlation functions do not reveal the symmetry-breaking but higher-order terms would show them. This is indeed reflected in the data discussed in the paper. What the analysis shows is simply that the observables are too simple to reveal the symmetry breaking.
On the one hand it is interesting that low-order correlations may appear to respect a symmetry that the full state does not respect. On the other hand, I believe that the statements about this aspect should be made more carefully: It is not the case that the symmetry has been restored on a shorter time scale than the approach to equilibrium, it is just not captured by this specific observable.
This is in direct analogy to entanglement witness from which the term is borrowed: Just because an entanglement witness (sufficient but not necessary condition for entanglement) yields zero, it does not imply that the state is separable. The interpretation is analogue to the case of Gaussian entanglement witnesses that restrict to first and second moments but fail to reveal the entanglement of strongly non-Gaussian states, which, in turn, can be captured by more sophisticated higher-order witnesses.
Requested changes
1-Revise the discussion of the interpretation of symmetry witnesses according to the comments above.
Recommendation
Ask for minor revision
Strengths
1. Novelty and Relevance: The work addresses symmetry properties in nonequilibrium quantum systems, especially where symmetry restoration dynamics play a critical role. The methodology, focusing on correlation functions as symmetry indicators, is innovative and well-motivated.
2. Analytical Rigor and Theoretical Foundations: The derivation of symmetry identities and the development of symmetry witnesses are grounded in a clear, structured theoretical framework. The paper also provides detailed derivations and theoretical justifications that enhance its scientific rigor.
3. Broad Applicability: The framework is adaptable to a range of quantum many-body systems and is especially well-suited to experimental setups involving ultracold gases, as demonstrated by its application to spinor Bose gas data.
4. Use of Experimental and Numerical Validation: The authors support their approach with data from experimental setups and numerical simulations, which bolsters confidence in the method’s applicability and validity.
Weaknesses
1. Complexity of Presentation: Some sections, particularly those involving the derivation of symmetry identities (e.g., Eqs. (12)–(20)), could benefit from clearer, step-by-step explanations or additional diagrams to support reader comprehension. The technical complexity may obscure understanding for readers less familiar with the intricacies of Ward identities and symmetry witness construction.
2. Limited Experimental Comparison: While experimental data is provided, a more extensive discussion comparing theoretical predictions with experimental observations would improve understanding of the practical limits and performance of the proposed symmetry witness framework.
Report
The authors present an approach for identifying effective symmetries in nonequilibrium quantum many-body systems. This framework exploits equal-time correlation functions to distinguish symmetry properties of states from those of the Hamiltonian. The approach is applied to a spinor Bose gas, both through simulations and experimental data, to explore dynamic symmetry restoration and spontaneous symmetry breaking. The authors introduce "symmetry witnesses" based on correlation functions, a promising tool for characterising symmetry behaviour in quantum systems.
The manuscript presents an original and significant contribution to the study of symmetries in nonequilibrium quantum systems, offering an insightful methodology that could be impactful across quantum simulation and experiment domains. Given the strengths in innovation, theoretical robustness, and relevance to experimental physics, I recommend the paper for publication. Minor revisions, especially to enhance clarity in technical sections and to further clarify experimental implications, would be welcome.
Requested changes
1. Clarification on Symmetry Witnesses: The definition and role of symmetry witnesses could be elaborated further to help readers grasp their significance, especially as they relate to experimentally measurable quantities. For instance, including a brief discussion on the intuition behind the choice of witnesses and how they correlate with physical observables could improve accessibility.
2. The sentence: “The search for emergent theories that effectively de- scribe nonequilibrium macroscopic behavior, their classification and justification from first principles is one of the most pressing research directions in quantum many-body physics.” clearly needs to be supported by references. In general, I think the introduction can be supported by citations of relevant papers.
3. Experimental Relevance: Expanding on how the experimental symmetry witness values were obtained (e.g., specific measurement methods or parameter choices in the Bose gas setup) would add clarity, as would a discussion on experimental noise or limitations that might affect symmetry witness accuracy.
3. Further Examples of Applications: Discussing other potential applications, such as in cosmological simulations or condensed matter physics (which are mentioned by the authors), would highlight the broader utility of this methodology.
Recommendation
Publish (easily meets expectations and criteria for this Journal; among top 50%)