arXiv · 2103.04762
Non-adiabatic dynamics across a first order quantum phase transition: Quantized bubble nucleation
Abstract
Metastability is a quintessential feature of first order quantum phase transitions, which is lost either by dynamical instability or by nucleating bubbles of a true vacuum through quantum tunneling. By considering a drive across the first order quantum phase transition in the quantum Ising chain in the presence of both transverse and longitudinal fields, we reveal multiple regions in the parameter space where the initial metastable state loses its metastability in successive stages. The mechanism responsible is found to be semi-degenerate resonant tunnelings to states with specific bubble sizes. We show that such dynamics of quantized bubble nucleations can be understood in terms of Landau-Zener transitions, which provide quantitative predictions of nucleation probabilities for different bubble sizes.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Aritra Sinha, Titas Chanda, Jacek Dziarmaga. 2021-03-04. Non-adiabatic dynamics across a first order quantum phase transition: Quantized bubble nucleation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.103.l220302
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.