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Timescales of quantum and classical chaotic spin models evolving toward equilibrium

by Fausto Borgonovi, Felix M Izrailev, Lea F Santos

Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users): Lea Santos
Submission information
Preprint Link: scipost_202402_00033v2  (pdf)
Date submitted: 2024-06-01 03:40
Submitted by: Santos, Lea
Submitted to: SciPost Physics
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
  • Quantum Physics
  • Statistical and Soft Matter Physics
Approach: Theoretical

Abstract

We investigate the quench dynamics of a one-dimensional strongly chaotic lattice with $L$ interacting spins. By analyzing both the classical and quantum dynamics, we identify and elucidate the two mechanisms of the relaxation process of this systems: one arises from linear parametric instability and the other from nonlinearity. We demonstrate that the relaxation of the single-particles energies (global quantity) and of the onsite magnetization (local observable) is primarily due to the first mechanism, referred to as linear chaos. Our analytical findings indicate that both quantities, in the classical and quantum domain, relax at the same timescale, which is independent of the system size. The physical explanation for this behavior lies in the fact that each spin is constrained to the surface of a three-dimensional unit sphere, instead of filling the whole many-dimensional phase space. We argue that observables with a well-defined classical limit should conform to this picture and exhibit a finite relaxation time in the thermodynamic limit. In contrast, the evolution of the participation ratio, which measures how the initial state spreads in the many-body Hilbert space and has no classical limit, indicates absence of relaxation in the thermodynamic limit.

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

List of changes

The changes are detailed in the replies to the Referees.

Current status:
In refereeing

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