Group Seminar via Zoom: Non-stationary quantum many-body dynamics

Berislav Buca, Oxford University
Group meeting via video conference (Zoom)
Tuesday, June 9th, 09:00 (MEZ)

Dealing with the unique situation of partial lock downs worldwide and home office solutions at our Institute due to the current spreading of the Covid 19 virus, we are now holding our group seminars and journal clubs via video conference. This procedure enables us to continue our research, enhance discussions and exchange important information.

Abstract:

The assumption that quantum systems relax to a stationary (time-independent) state in the long-time limit underpins statistical physics and much of our intuitive understanding of scientific phenomena. For isolated systems this follows from the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis. When an environment is present the expectation is that all of phase space is explored, eventually leading to stationarity. However, real-world phenomena, from life to weather patterns are persistently non-stationary. We will discuss simple algebraic conditions that lead to a quantum many-body system never reaching a stationary state, not even a non-equilibrium one. This unusual state of matter characterized by persistent oscillations has been recently called a time crystal. We show that it's existence can be also, counter-intuitively, induced through the dissipation itself. Finally, we also discuss how our framework allows for quantum many-body system displaying complex dynamical behaviour, usually found in macroscopic classical systems, such as synchronization.

References:

B Buca, J Tindall, D Jaksch. Nat. Comms. 10 (1), 1730 (2019)
M Medenjak, B Buca, D Jaksch. arXiv:1905.08266 (2019)
B Buca, D Jaksch. Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 260401 (2019)
J Tindall, B Buca, J R Coulthard, D Jaksch. Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 030603 (2019)
J Tindall, C Sanchez Munoz, B Buca, D Jaksch. New J. Phys. 22 013026 (2020)

If you would like to join our group seminars via Zoom, please contact us for more information.