It is a fundamental assumption of statistical mechanics that a closed system with many degrees of freedom ergodically samples all equal energy points in phase space. To understand the limits of this assumption, it is important to find and study systems that are not ergodic, and thus do not reach thermal equilibrium. A few complex systems have been proposed that are expected not to thermalize because their dynamics are integrable. Some nearly integrable systems of many particles have been studied numerically, and shown not to ergodically sample phase space. However, there has been no experimental demonstration of such a system with many degrees of freedom that does not approach thermal equilibrium. Here we report the preparation of out-of-equilibrium arrays of trapped one-dimensional (1D) Bose gases, each containing from 40 to 250 87Rb atoms, which do not noticeably equilibrate even after thousands of collisions. Our results are probably explainable by the well-known fact that a homogeneous 1D Bose gas with point-like collisional interactions is integrable. Until now, however, the time evolution of out-of-equilibrium 1D Bose gases has been a theoretically unsettled issue, as practical factors such as harmonic trapping and imperfectly point-like interactions may compromise integrability. The absence of damping in 1D Bose gases may lead to potential applications in force sensing and atom interferometry.

http://absimage.aps.org/image/DAMOP06/MWS_DAMOP06-2006-000603.pdf

A quantum Newton's cradle

Statistical physics of vaccination

The power of any kind of network approach lies in the ability to simplify a complex system so that one can better understand its function as a whole. Sometimes it is beneficial, however, to include more information than in a simple graph of only nodes and links. Adding information about times of interactions can make predictions and mechanistic understanding more accurate. The drawback, however, is that there are not so many methods available, partly because temporal networks is a relatively young field, partly because it is more difficult to develop such methods compared to for static networks. In this colloquium, we review the methods to analyze and model temporal networks and processes taking place on them, focusing mainly on the last three years. This includes the spreading of infectious disease, opinions, rumors, in social networks; information packets in computer networks; various types of signaling in biology, and more. We also discuss future directions.

/pdf/modern-temporal-network-theory-a-colloquium-2artviu6zb.pdf

Modern temporal network theory: a colloquium

The power of any kind of network approach lies in the ability to simplify a complex system so that one can better understand its function as a whole. Sometimes it is beneficial, however, to include more information than in a simple graph of only nodes and links. Adding information about times of interactions can make predictions and mechanistic understanding more accurate. The drawback, however, is that there are not so many methods available, partly because temporal networks is a relatively young field, partly because it more difficult to develop such methods compared to for static networks. In this colloquium, we review the methods to analyze and model temporal networks and processes taking place on them, focusing mainly on the last three years. This includes the spreading of infectious disease, opinions, rumors, in social networks; information packets in computer networks; various types of signaling in biology, and more. We also discuss future directions.

Modern temporal network theory: A colloquium

We review the dynamics after quantum quenches in integrable quantum spin chains. We give a pedagogical introduction to relaxation in isolated quantum systems, and discuss the description of the steady state by (gen- eralized) Gibbs ensembles. When then turn to general features in the time evolution of local observables after the quench, using a simple model of free fermions as an example. In the second part we present an overview of recent progress in describing quench dynamics in two key paradigms for quantum integrable models, the transverse field Ising chain and the anisotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain.

Quench dynamics and relaxation in isolated integrable quantum spin chains

Initial states in integrable quantum field theory quenches from an integral equation hierarchy

We consider the form factor bootstrap approach of integrable field theories to derive matrix elements of composite branch-point twist fields associated with symmetry resolved entanglement entropies. The bootstrap equations are determined in an intuitive way and their solution is presented for the massive Ising field theory and for the genuinely interacting sinh-Gordon model, both possessing a ℤ2 symmetry. The solutions are carefully cross-checked by performing various limits and by the application of the ∆-theorem. The issue of symmetry resolution for discrete symmetries is also discussed. We show that entanglement equipartition is generically expected and we identify the first subleading term (in the UV cutoff) breaking it. We also present the complete computation of the symmetry resolved von Neumann entropy for an interval in the ground state of the paramagnetic phase of the Ising model. In particular, we compute the universal functions entering in the charged and symmetry resolved entanglement.

/pdf/symmetry-resolved-entanglement-in-integrable-field-theories-1zcgo1nud8.pdf

Symmetry resolved entanglement in integrable field theories via form factor bootstrap

We generalise the form factor bootstrap approach to integrable field theories with U(1) symmetry to derive matrix elements of composite branch-point twist fields associated with symmetry resolved entanglement entropies. The bootstrap equations are solved for the free massive Dirac and complex boson theories, which are the simplest theories with U(1) symmetry. We present the exact and complete solution for the bootstrap, including vacuum expectation values and form factors involving any type and arbitrarily number of particles. The non-trivial solutions are carefully cross-checked by performing various limits and by the application of the ∆-theorem. An alternative and compact determination of the novel form factors is also presented. Based on the form factors of the U(1) composite branch-point twist fields, we re-derive earlier results showing entanglement equipartition for an interval in the ground state of the two models.

/pdf/u-1-symmetry-resolved-entanglement-in-free-1-1-dimensional-3fdcyadalm.pdf

U(1) symmetry resolved entanglement in free 1+1 dimensional field theories via form factor bootstrap

Overlaps after quantum quenches in the sine-Gordon model

We discuss the non-equilibrium time evolution of the phase field in the sine-Gordon model using two very different approaches: the truncated Wigner approximation and the truncated conformal space approach. We demonstrate that the two approaches agree for a period covering the first few oscillations, thereby giving a solid theoretical prediction in the framework of sine-Gordon model, which is thought to describe the dynamics of two bosonic condensates in quasi-one-dimensional traps coupled via a Josephson tunneling term. We conclude, however, that the recently observed phase-locking behavior cannot be explained in terms of homogeneous sine-Gordon dynamics, which hints at the role of other degrees of freedom or inhomogeneity in the experimental system.

David X. Horvath

Papers

Initial states in integrable quantum field theory quenches from an integral equation hierarchy

Symmetry resolved entanglement in integrable field theories via form factor bootstrap

U(1) symmetry resolved entanglement in free 1+1 dimensional field theories via form factor bootstrap

Overlaps after quantum quenches in the sine-Gordon model

Nonequilibrium time evolution and rephasing in the quantum sine-Gordon model