arXiv subjects

Lev Vidmar

Publications and source records attributed to Lev Vidmar.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Single-Particle Universality of the Many-Body Spectral Form Factor

We consider systems of fermions evolved by non-interacting unitary circuits with correlated on-site potentials. When these potentials are drawn from the eigenvalue distribution of a circular random matrix ensemble, the single-particle sector exhibits chaotic dynamics. We study the corresponding many-body spectral statistics and show that the spectral form factor (SFF) can be computed \textit{exactly}. Due to the absence of interactions the SFF grows exponentially in time, a result which we demonstrate through simple arguments, scaling collapses, and closed-form evaluation of the SFF. We study the role of interactions by numerically analyzing a kicked Ising model and find that the SFF crosses over to a linear growth regime consistent with many-body random matrix universality. Our exact results for the SFF provide a baseline for future studies of the crossover between single-particle and many-body random matrix behavior.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2024

Fading ergodicity

Eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) represents a breakthrough in many-body physics since it allows to link thermalization of physical observables with the applicability of random matrix theory (RMT). Recent years were also extremely fruitful in exploring possible counterexamples to thermalization, ranging, among others, from integrability, single-particle chaos, many-body localization, many-body scars, to Hilbert-space fragmentation. In all these cases the conventional ETH is violated. However, it remains elusive how the conventional ETH breaks down when one approaches the boundaries of ergodicity, and whether the range of validity of the conventional ETH coincides with the validity of RMT-like spectral statistics. Here we bridge this gap and we introduce a scenario of the ETH breakdown in many-body quantum systems, dubbed fading ergodicity regime, which establishes a link between the conventional ETH and non-ergodic behavior. We conjecture this scenario to be relevant for the description of finite many-body systems at the boundaries of ergodicity, and we provide numerical and analytical arguments for its validity in the quantum sun model of ergodicity breaking phase transition. For the latter, we provide evidence that the breakdown of the conventional ETH is not associated with the breakdown of the RMT-like spectral statistics.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2024

Survival Probability, Particle Imbalance, and Their Relationship in Quadratic Models

We argue that the dynamics of particle imbalance in quadratic fermionic models is, for the majority of initial many-body product states in site occupation basis, virtually indistinguishable from the dynamics of survival probabilities of single-particle states. We then generalize our statement to a similar relationship between the non-equal time and space density correlation functions in many-body states and the transition probabilities of single-particle states at nonzero distances. Finally, we study the equal time connected density-density correlation functions in many-body states, which exhibit certain qualitative analogies with the survival and transition probabilities of single-particle states. Our results are numerically tested for two paradigmatic models of single-particle localization: the 3D Anderson model and the 1D Aubry-André model. This work gives affirmative answer to the question whether it is possible to measure features of the single-particle survival and transition probabilities by the dynamics of observables in many-body states.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2024

Critical quantum dynamics of observables at eigenstate transitions

It is an outstanding goal to unveil the key features of quantum dynamics at eigenstate transitions. Focusing on quadratic fermionic Hamiltonians that exhibit localization transitions, we identify physical observables that exhibit scale-invariant critical dynamics at the transition when quenched from the initially localized charge density-wave states. The identification is based on two ingredients: (a) A relationship between the time evolution of observables in a many-body state and the transition probabilities of single-particle states, and (b) scale invariance of transition probabilities, which generalizes the corresponding recent result for survival probabilities [M. Hopjan and L. Vidmar, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 060404 (2023); Phys. Rev. Res. 5, 043301 (2023)]. These properties suggest that the scale-invariant critical dynamics in the quantum-quench dynamics is also exhibited by the observables, which share the common eigenbasis with the Hamiltonian before the quench. Focusing on experimentally relevant observables such as site occupations and the particle imbalance, we numerically demonstrate their critical behavior at the eigenstate transitions in the three-dimensional Anderson model and the one-dimensional Aubry-André model model.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2024

Many-Body Mobility Edge in Quantum Sun models

The quantum sun model is an interacting model that exhibits sharp signatures of ergodicity breaking phase transition. Here, we show that the model exhibits a many-body mobility edge. We provide analytical arguments for its existence, complemented by the state-of-the-art numerical simulations analysing gap ratios, Thouless times as well as entanglement entropy of eigenstates. We also introduce the quantum sun model with particle number conservation, and we argue that it shares many similarities with his unrestricted predecessor.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2024

Similarity between a many-body quantum avalanche model and the ultrametric random matrix model

In the field of ergodicity-breaking phases, it has been recognized that quantum avalanches can destabilize many-body localization at a wide range of disorder strengths. This has in particular been demonstrated by the numerical study of a toy model, sometimes simply called the "avalanche model" or the "quantum sun model" [Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 060602 (2022)], which consists of an ergodic seed coupled to a perfectly localized material. In this paper, we connect this toy model to a well-studied model in random matrix theory, the ultrametric ensemble. We conjecture that the models share the following features. 1) The location of the critical point may be predicted sharply by analytics. 2) On the localized site, both models exhibit Fock space localization. 3) There is a manifold of critical points. On the critical manifold, the eigenvectors exhibit nontrivial multifractal behaviour that can be tuned by moving on the manifold. 4) The spectral statistics at criticality is intermediate between Poisson statistics and random matrix statistics, also tunable on the critical manifold. We confirm numerically these properties.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2024

Eigenstate entanglement entropy in the integrable spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ XYZ model

We study the average and the standard deviation of the entanglement entropy of highly excited eigenstates of the integrable interacting spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ XYZ chain away from and at special lines with $U(1)$ symmetry and supersymmetry. We universally find that the average eigenstate entanglement entropy exhibits a volume-law coefficient that is smaller than that of quantum-chaotic interacting models. At the supersymmetric point, we resolve the effect that degeneracies have on the computed averages. We further find that the normalized standard deviation of the eigenstate entanglement entropy decays polynomially with increasing system size, which we contrast to the exponential decay in quantum-chaotic interacting models. Our results provide state-of-the art numerical evidence that integrability in spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ chains reduces the average, and increases the standard deviation, of the entanglement entropy of highly excited energy eigenstates when compared to those in quantum-chaotic interacting models.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2024

Single-quasiparticle eigenstate thermalization

Quadratic Hamiltonians that exhibit single-particle quantum chaos are called quantum-chaotic quadratic Hamiltonians. One of their hallmarks is single-particle eigenstate thermalization introduced in Phys. Rev. B 104, 214203 (2021), which describes statistical properties of matrix elements of observables in single-particle eigenstates. However, the latter has been studied only in quantum-chaotic quadratic Hamiltonians that obey the U(1) symmetry. Here, we focus on quantum-chaotic quadratic Hamiltonians that break the U(1) symmetry and, hence, their "single-particle" eigenstates are actually single-quasiparticle excitations introduced on the top of a many-body state. We study their wave functions and matrix elements of one-body observables, for which we introduce the notion of single-quasiparticle eigenstate thermalization. Focusing on spinless fermion Hamiltonians in three dimensions with local hopping, pairing and on-site disorder, we also study the properties of disorder-induced near zero modes, which give rise to a sharp peak in the density of states at zero energy. Finally, we numerically show equilibration of observables in many-body eigenstates after a quantum quench. We analytically prove that it is a consequence of single-quasiparticle eigenstate thermalization, in analogy to the U(1) symmetric case from Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 060401 (2023).

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2023

Scale-invariant critical dynamics at eigenstate transitions

The notion of scale-invariant dynamics is well established at late times in quantum chaotic systems, as illustrated by the emergence of a ramp in the spectral form factor (SFF). Building on the results of the preceding Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 060404 (2023)], we explore features of scale-invariant dynamics of survival probability and SFF at criticality, i.e., at eigenstate transitions from quantum chaos to localization. We show that, in contrast to the quantum chaotic regime, the quantum dynamics at criticality do not only exhibit scale invariance at late times, but also at much shorter times that we refer to as mid-time dynamics. Our results apply to both quadratic and interacting models. Specifically, we study Anderson models in dimensions three to five and power-law random banded matrices for the former, and the quantum sun model and the ultrametric model for the latter, as well as the Rosenzweig-Porter model.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2023

Scale-Invariant Survival Probability at Eigenstate Transitions

Understanding quantum phase transitions in highly excited Hamiltonian eigenstates is currently far from being complete. It is particularly important to establish tools for their characterization in time domain. Here we argue that a scaled survival probability, where time is measured in units of a typical Heisenberg time, exhibits a scale-invariant behavior at eigenstate transitions. We first demonstrate this property in two paradigmatic quadratic models, the one-dimensional Aubry-Andre model and three-dimensional Anderson model. Surprisingly, we then show that similar phenomenology emerges in the interacting avalanche model of ergodicity breaking phase transitions. This establishes an intriguing similarity between localization transition in quadratic systems and ergodicity breaking phase transition in interacting systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Generalized thermalization in quantum-chaotic quadratic Hamiltonians

Thermalization (generalized thermalization) in nonintegrable (integrable) quantum systems requires two ingredients: equilibration and agreement with the predictions of the Gibbs (generalized Gibbs) ensemble. We prove that observables that exhibit eigenstate thermalization in single-particle sector equilibrate in many-body sectors of quantum-chaotic quadratic models. Remarkably, the same observables do not exhibit eigenstate thermalization in many-body sectors (we establish that there are exponentially many outliers). Hence, the generalized Gibbs ensemble is generally needed to describe their expectation values after equilibration, and it is characterized by Lagrange multipliers that are smooth functions of single-particle energies.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2023

Localization challenges quantum chaos in the finite two-dimensional Anderson model

It is believed that the two-dimensional (2D) Anderson model exhibits localization for any nonzero disorder in the thermodynamic limit and it is also well known that the finite-size effects are considerable in the weak disorder limit. Here we numerically study the quantum-chaos to localization transition in the finite 2D Anderson model using standard indicators used in the modern literature such as the level spacing ratio, spectral form factor, variances of observable matrix elements, participation entropy and the eigenstate entanglement entropy. We show that many features of these indicators may indicate emergence of robust single-particle quantum chaos at weak disorder. However, we argue that a careful numerical analysis is consistent with the single-parameter scaling theory and predicts the breakdown of quantum chaos at any nonzero disorder value in the thermodynamic limit. Among the hallmarks of this breakdown are the universal behavior of the spectral form factor at weak disorder, and the universal scaling of various indicators as a function of the parameter $u = \left(W \ln V\right)^{-1}$ where $W$ is the disorder strength and $V$ is the number of lattice sites.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2022

Tight-binding billiards

Recent works have established universal entanglement properties and demonstrated validity of single-particle eigenstate thermalization in quantum-chaotic quadratic Hamiltonians. However, a common property of all quantum-chaotic quadratic Hamiltonians studied in this context so far is the presence of random terms that act as a source of disorder. Here we introduce tight-binding billiards in two dimensions, which are described by non-interacting spinless fermions on a disorder-free square lattice subject to curved open (hard-wall) boundaries. We show that many properties of tight-binding billiards match those of quantum-chaotic quadratic Hamiltonians: the average entanglement entropy of many-body eigenstates approaches the random matrix theory predictions and one-body observables in single-particle eigenstates obey the single-particle eigenstate thermalization hypothesis. On the other hand, a degenerate subset of single-particle eigenstates at zero energy (i.e., the zero modes) can be described as chiral particles whose wavefunctions are confined to one of the sublattices.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2022

Ergodicity breaking transition in zero dimensions

It is of great current interest to establish toy models of ergodicity breaking transitions in quantum many-body systems. Here we study a model that is expected to exhibit an ergodic to nonergodic transition in the thermodynamic limit upon tuning the coupling between an ergodic quantum dot and distant particles with spin-1/2. The model is effectively zero dimensional, however, a variant of the model was proposed by De Roeck and Huveneers to describe the avalanche mechanism of ergodicity breaking transition in one-dimensional disordered spin chains. We show that exact numerical results based on the spectral form factor calculation accurately agree with theoretical predictions, and hence unambiguously confirm existence of the ergodicity breaking transition in this model. We benchmark specific properties that represent hallmarks of the ergodicity breaking transition in finite systems.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2022

Statistical properties of the off-diagonal matrix elements of observables in eigenstates of integrable systems

We study the statistical properties of the off-diagonal matrix elements of observables in the energy eigenstates of integrable quantum systems. They have been found to be dense in the spin-1/2 XXZ chain, while they are sparse in noninteracting systems. We focus on the quasimomentum occupation of hard-core bosons in one dimension, and show that the distributions of the off-diagonal matrix elements are well described by generalized Gamma distributions, in both the presence and absence of translational invariance but not in the presence of localization. We also show that the results obtained for the off-diagonal matrix elements of observables in the spin-1/2 XXZ model are well described by a generalized Gamma distribution.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2022

Volume-law entanglement entropy of typical pure quantum states

The entanglement entropy of subsystems of typical eigenstates of quantum many-body Hamiltonians has been recently conjectured to be a diagnostic of quantum chaos and integrability. In quantum chaotic systems it has been found to behave as in typical pure states, while in integrable systems it has been found to behave as in typical pure Gaussian states. In this tutorial, we provide a pedagogical introduction to known results about the entanglement entropy of subsystems of typical pure states and of typical pure Gaussian states. They both exhibit a leading term that scales with the volume of the subsystem, when smaller than one half of the volume of the system, but the prefactor of the volume law is fundamentally different. It is constant (and maximal) for typical pure states, and it depends on the ratio between the volume of the subsystem and of the entire system for typical pure Gaussian states. Since particle-number conservation plays an important role in many physical Hamiltonians, we discuss its effect on typical pure states and on typical pure Gaussian states. We prove that while the behavior of the leading volume-law terms does not change qualitatively, the nature of the subleading terms can change. In particular, subleading corrections can appear that depend on the square root of the volume of the subsystem. We unveil the origin of those corrections. Finally, we discuss the connection between the entanglement entropy of typical pure states and analytical results obtained in the context of random matrix theory, as well as numerical results obtained for physical Hamiltonians.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Phenomenology of spectral functions in disordered spin chains at infinite temperature

Studies of disordered spin chains have recently experienced a renewed interest, inspired by the question to which extent the exact numerical calculations comply with the existence of a many-body localization phase transition. For the paradigmatic random field Heisenberg spin chains, many intriguing features were observed when the disorder is considerable compared to the spin interaction strength. Here, we introduce a phenomenological theory that may explain some of those features. The theory is based on the proximity to the noninteracting limit, in which the system is an Anderson insulator. Taking the spin imbalance as an exemplary observable, we demonstrate that the proximity to the local integrals of motion of the Anderson insulator determines the dynamics of the observable at infinite temperature. In finite interacting systems our theory quantitatively describes its integrated spectral function for a wide range of disorders.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2021

Spectral properties of three-dimensional Anderson model

The three-dimensional Anderson model represents a paradigmatic model to understand the Anderson localization transition. In this work we first review some key results obtained for this model in the past 50 years, and then study its properties from the perspective of modern numerical approaches. Our main focus is on the quantitative comparison between the level sensitivity statistics and the level statistics. While the former studies the sensitivity of Hamiltonian eigenlevels upon inserting a magnetic flux, the latter studies the properties of unperturbed eigenlevels. We define two versions of dimensionless conductance, the first corresponding to the width of the level curvature distribution relative to the mean level spacing, and the second corresponding to the ratio of the Heisenberg and the Thouless time obtained from the spectral form factor. We show that both conductances look remarkably similar around the localization transition, in particular, they predict a nearly identical critical point consistent with other measures of the transition. We then study some further properties of those quantities: for level curvatures, we discuss particular similarities and differences between the width of the level curvature distribution and the characteristic energy studied by Edwards and Thouless in their pioneering work [J. Phys. C. 5, 807 (1972)]. In the context of the spectral form factor, we show that at the critical point it enters a broad time-independent regime, in which its value is consistent with the level compressibility obtained from the level variance. Finally, we test the scaling solution of the average level spacing ratio in the crossover regime using the cost function minimization approach introduced in [Phys. Rev. B. 102, 064207 (2020)]. We find that the extracted transition point and the scaling coefficient agree with those from the literature to high numerical accuracy.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗