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J. Berges

Publications and source records attributed to J. Berges.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

Entropy transport in closed quantum many-body systems far from equilibrium

We investigate entropy transport for universal scaling phenomena in closed quantum many-body systems far from equilibrium. From spatially resolved experimental data of a spinor Bose gas, we demonstrate that entropy decreases on long-distance scales while it increases at short distances. A dynamical separation of scales leads to macrophysics with long-range order, which is insensitive to the highly entropic microphysical processes. Since the total von Neumann entropy is conserved on a fundamental level for the quantum system, our analysis reveals a reciprocal connection between the emergence of macroscopic structure and microscopic disorder. To illustrate the scope of this connection, we exemplify the universal phenomenon also in a relativistic quantum field theory calculation from first principles, which is relevant for particle physics and early-universe cosmology.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2019

Breaking the Fluctuation-Dissipation Relation by Universal Transport Processes

Universal phenomena far from equilibrium exhibit additional independent scaling exponents and functions as compared to thermal universal behavior. For the example of an ultracold Bose gas we simulate nonequilibrium transport processes in a universal scaling regime and show how they lead to the breaking of the fluctuation-dissipation relation. As a consequence, the scaling of spectral functions (commutators) and statistical correlations (anticommutators) between different points in time and space become linearly independent with distinct dynamic scaling exponents. As a macroscopic signature of this phenomenon we identify a transport peak in the statistical two-point correlator, which is absent in the spectral function showing the quasiparticle peaks of the Bose gas.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2019

Schwinger pair production and string breaking in non-Abelian gauge theory from real-time lattice improved Hamiltonians

Far-from-equilibrium dynamics of SU(2) gauge theory with Wilson fermions is studied in 1+1 space-time dimensions using a real-time lattice approach. Lattice improved Hamiltonians are shown to be very efficient in simulating Schwinger pair creation and emergent phenomena such as plasma oscillations. As a consequence, significantly smaller lattices can be employed to approach continuum physics in the infinite-volume limit as compared to unimproved implementations. This allows us to compute also higher-order correlation functions including four fermion fields, which give unprecedented insights into the real-time dynamics of the fragmentation process of strings between fermions and antifermions.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2018

Non-equilibrium Quantum Spin Dynamics from 2PI Functional Integral Techniques in the Schwinger Boson Representation

We present a non-equilibrium quantum field theory approach to the initial-state dynamics of spin models based on two-particle irreducible (2PI) functional integral techniques. It employs a mapping of spins to Schwinger bosons for arbitrary spin interactions and spin lengths. At next-to-leading order (NLO) in an expansion in the number of field components, a wide range of non-perturbative dynamical phenomena are shown to be captured, including relaxation of magnetizations in a 3D long-range interacting system with quenched disorder, different relaxation behaviour on both sides of a quantum phase transition and the crossover from relaxation to arrest of dynamics in a disordered spin chain previously shown to exhibit many-body-localization. Where applicable, we employ alternative state-of-the-art techniques and find rather good agreement with our 2PI NLO results. As our method can handle large system sizes and converges relatively quickly to its thermodynamic limit, it opens the possibility to study those phenomena in higher dimensions in regimes in which no other efficient methods exist. Furthermore, the approach to classical dynamics can be investigated as the spin length is increased.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2018

Large-N kinetic theory for highly occupied systems

We consider an effective kinetic description for quantum many-body systems, which is not based on a weak-coupling or diluteness expansion. Instead, it employs an expansion in the number of field components N of the underlying scalar quantum field theory. Extending previous studies, we demonstrate that the large-N kinetic theory at next-to-leading order is able to describe important aspects of highly occupied systems, which are beyond standard perturbative kinetic approaches. We analyze the underlying quasiparticle dynamics by computing the effective scattering matrix elements analytically and solve numerically the large-N kinetic equation for a highly occupied system far from equilibrium. This allows us to compute the universal scaling form of the distribution function at an infrared nonthermal fixed point within a kinetic description and we compare to existing lattice field theory simulation results.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2018

Dynamical topological transitions in the massive Schwinger model with a θ-term

Aiming at a better understanding of anomalous and topological effects in gauge theories out-of-equilibrium, we study the real-time dynamics of a prototype model for CP-violation, the massive Schwinger model with a $θ$-term. We identify dynamical quantum phase transitions between different topological sectors that appear after sufficiently strong quenches of the $θ$-parameter. Moreover, we establish a general dynamical topological order parameter, which can be accessed through fermion two-point correlators and, importantly, which can be applied for interacting theories. Enabled by this result, we show that the topological transitions persist beyond the weak-coupling regime. Finally, these effects can be observed with table-top experiments based on existing cold-atom, superconducting-qubit, and trapped-ion technology. Our work, thus, presents a significant step towards quantum simulating topological and anomalous real-time phenomena relevant to nuclear and high-energy physics.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2018

Relaxation of an isolated dipolar-interacting Rydberg quantum spin system

How do isolated quantum systems approach an equilibrium state? We experimentally and theoretically address this question for a prototypical spin system formed by ultracold atoms prepared in two Rydberg states with different orbital angular momenta. By coupling these states with a resonant microwave driving we realize a dipolar XY spin-1/2 model in an external field. Starting from a spin-polarized state we suddenly switch on the external field and monitor the subsequent many-body dynamics. Our key observation is density dependent relaxation of the total magnetization much faster than typical decoherence rates. To determine the processes governing this relaxation we employ different theoretical approaches which treat quantum effects on initial conditions and dynamical laws separately. This allows us to identify an intrinsically quantum component to the relaxation attributed to primordial quantum fluctuations.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2018

Observation of universal dynamics in an isolated one-dimensional Bose gas far from equilibrium

We provide experimental evidence of universal dynamics far from equilibrium during the relaxation of an isolated one-dimensional Bose gas. Following a rapid cooling quench, the system exhibits universal scaling in time and space, associated with the approach of a non-thermal fixed point. The time evolution within the scaling period is described by a single universal function and scaling exponent, independent of the specifics of the initial state. Our results provide a quantum simulation in a regime, where to date no theoretical predictions are available. This constitutes a crucial step in the verification of universality far from equilibrium. If successful, this may lead to a comprehensive classification of systems based on their universal properties far from equilibrium, relevant for a large variety of systems at different scales.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2018

Electronic structure of single layer 1T-NbSe$_2$: interplay of lattice distortions, non-local exchange, and Mott-Hubbard correlations

Using ab-initio calculations we reveal the nature of the insulating phase recently found experimentally in monolayer 1T-NbSe$_2$. We find soft phonon modes in a large parts of the Brillouin zone indicating the strong-coupling nature of a charge-density-wave instability. Structural relaxation of a $\sqrt{13}\times\sqrt{13}$ supercell reveals a Star-of-David reconstruction with an energy gain of 60 meV per primitive unit cell. The band structure of the distorted phase exhibits a half-filled flat band which is associated with orbitals that are delocalized over several atoms in each Star of David. By including many-body corrections through a combined GW, hybrid-functional, and DMFT treatment, we find the flat band to split into narrow Hubbard bands. The lowest energy excitation across the gap turns out to be between itinerant Se-$p$ states and the upper Hubbard band, determining the system to be a charge-transfer insulator. Combined hybrid-functional and GW calculations show that long-range interactions shift the Se-$p$ states to lower energies. Thus, a delicate interplay of local and long-range correlations determines the gap nature and its size in this distorted phase of the monolayer 1T-NbSe$_2$.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2018

Plasmonic Superconductivity in Layered Materials

Plasmonic excitations behave fundamentally different in layered materials in comparison to bulk systems. They form gapless modes, which in turn couple at low energies to the electrons. Thereby they can strongly influence superconducting instabilities. Here, we show how these excitations can be controlled from the outside via changes in the dielectric environment or in the doping level, which allows for external tuning of the superconducting transition temperature. By solving the gap equation for an effective system, we find that the plasmonic influence can both strongly enhance or reduce the transition temperature, depending on the details of the plasmon-phonon interplay. We formulate simple experimental guidelines to find plasmon- induced elevated transition temperatures in layered materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2018

Quantum simulation of lattice gauge theories using Wilson fermions

Quantum simulators have the exciting prospect of giving access to real-time dynamics of lattice gauge theories, in particular in regimes that are difficult to compute on classical computers. Future progress towards scalable quantum simulation of lattice gauge theories, however, hinges crucially on the efficient use of experimental resources. As we argue in this work, due to the fundamental non-uniqueness of discretizing the relativistic Dirac Hamiltonian, the lattice representation of gauge theories allows for an optimization that up to now has been left unexplored. We exemplify our discussion with lattice quantum electrodynamics in two-dimensional space-time, where we show that the formulation through Wilson fermions provides several advantages over the previously considered staggered fermions. Notably, it enables a strongly simplified optical lattice setup and it reduces the number of degrees of freedom required to simulate dynamical gauge fields. Exploiting the optimal representation, we propose an experiment based on a mixture of ultracold atoms trapped in a tilted optical lattice. Using numerical benchmark simulations, we demonstrate that a state-of-the-art quantum simulator may access the Schwinger mechanism and map out its non-perturbative onset.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2018

Attractive vs. repulsive interactions in the Bose-Einstein condensation dynamics of relativistic field theories

We study the impact of attractive self-interactions on the nonequilibrium dynamics of relativistic quantum fields with large occupancies at low momenta. Our primary focus is on Bose-Einstein condensation and nonthermal fixed points in such systems. As a model system we consider O(N)-symmetric scalar field theories. We use classical-statistical real-time simulations, as well as a systematic 1/N expansion of the quantum (2PI) effective action to next-to-leading order. When the mean self-interactions are repulsive, condensation occurs as a consequence of a universal inverse particle cascade to the zero-momentum mode with self-similar scaling behavior. For attractive mean self-interactions the inverse cascade is absent and the particle annihilation rate is enhanced compared to the repulsive case, which counteracts the formation of coherent field configurations. For N >= 2, the presence of a nonvanishing conserved charge can suppress number changing processes and lead to the formation of stable localized charge clumps, i.e. Q-balls.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2017

Universal self-similar scaling of spatial Wilson loops out of equilibrium

We investigate strongly correlated non-Abelian plasmas out of equilibrium. Based on numerical simulations, we establish a self-similar scaling property for the time evolution of spatial Wilson loops that characterizes a universal state of matter far from equilibrium. Most remarkably, it exhibits a generalized area law which holds for sufficiently large ratio of spatial area and fractional power of time. Performing calculations also for the perturbative regime at higher momenta, we are able to characterize the full nonthermal scaling properties of SU(2) and SU(3) symmetric plasmas from short to large distance scales in terms of two independent universal exponents and associated scaling functions.

hep-th↗
arXiv2017

Parametric estimate of the relative photon yields from the Glasma and the Quark-Gluon Plasma in heavy-ion collisions

Recent classical-statistical numerical simulations have established the "bottom-up" thermalization scenario of Baier et al. as the correct weak coupling effective theory for thermalization in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. We perform a parametric study of photon production in the various stages of this bottom-up framework to ascertain the relative contribution of the off-equilibrium "Glasma" relative to that of a thermalized Quark-Gluon Plasma. Taking into account the constraints imposed by the measured charged hadron multiplicities at RHIC and the LHC, we find that Glasma contributions are important especially for large values of the saturation scale at both energies. These non-equilibrium effects should therefore be taken into account in studies where weak coupling methods are employed to compute photon yields.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2017

Implementing quantum electrodynamics with ultracold atomic systems

We discuss the experimental engineering of model systems for the description of QED in one spatial dimension via a mixture of bosonic $^{23}$Na and fermionic $^6$Li atoms. The local gauge symmetry is realized in an optical superlattice, using heteronuclear boson-fermion spin-changing interactions which preserve the total spin in every local collision. We consider a large number of bosons residing in the coherent state of a Bose-Einstein condensate on each link between the fermion lattice sites, such that the behavior of lattice QED in the continuum limit can be recovered. The discussion about the range of possible experimental parameters builds, in particular, upon experiences with related setups of fermions interacting with coherent samples of bosonic atoms. We determine the atomic system's parameters required for the description of fundamental QED processes, such as Schwinger pair production and string breaking. This is achieved by benchmark calculations of the atomic system and of QED itself using functional integral techniques. Our results demonstrate that the dynamics of one-dimensional QED may be realized with ultracold atoms using state-of-the-art experimental resources. The experimental setup proposed may provide a unique access to longstanding open questions for which classical computational methods are no longer applicable.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2016

Universal scaling of unequal-time correlation functions in ultracold Bose gases far from equilibrium

We explore the far-from-equilibrium dynamics of Bose gases in a universal regime associated to nonthermal fixed points. While previous investigations concentrated on scaling functions and exponents describing equal-time correlations, we compute the additional scaling functions and dynamic exponent $z$ characterizing the frequency dependence or dispersion from unequal-time correlations. This allows us to compare the characteristic condensation and correlation times from a finite-size scaling analysis depending on the system's volume.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2016

Schwinger pair production with ultracold atoms

We consider a system of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice as a quantum simulator for electron-positron pair production in quantum electrodynamics (QED). For a setup in one spatial dimension, we investigate the nonequilibrium phenomenon of pair production including the backreaction leading to plasma oscillations. Unlike previous investigations on quantum link models, we focus on the infinite-dimensional Hilbert space of QED and show that it may be well approximated by experiments employing Bose-Einstein condensates interacting with fermionic atoms. The calculations based on functional integral techniques give a unique access to the physical parameters required to realize the QED phenomena in a cold atom experiment. In particular, we use our approach to consider quantum link models in a yet unexplored parameter regime and give bounds for their ability to capture essential features of the physics. The results suggest a paradigmatic change towards realizations using coherent many-body states rather than single atoms for quantum simulations of high-energy particle physics phenomena.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗