Quasiparticle-continuum level repulsion in a quantum magnet

TL;DR

This study reveals that quasiparticles in a quantum magnet experience level repulsion from a continuum of states, affecting their dispersion relations, which broadens understanding of open quantum systems with decay processes.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of level repulsion between a quasiparticle and a multi-particle continuum in a quantum magnet, extending the concept beyond two-state interactions.

Findings

Observation of quasiparticle dispersion renormalization

Evidence of level repulsion with a continuum of states

Implications for non-Hermitian quantum systems

Abstract

When the energy eigenvalues of two coupled quantum states approach each other in a certain parameter space, their energy levels repel each other and level crossing is avoided. Such level repulsion, or avoided level crossing, is commonly used to describe the dispersion relation of quasiparticles in solids. However, little is known about the level repulsion when more than two quasiparticles are present; for example, in an open quantum system where a quasiparticle can spontaneously decay into many particle continuum. Here we show that even in this case level repulsion exists between a long-lived quasiparticle state and a continuum. In our fine resolution neutron spectroscopy study of magnetic quasiparticles in a frustrated quantum magnet BiCu2PO6, we observe a renormalization of quasiparticle dispersion relation due to the presence of the continuum of multi-quasiparticle states. Our results have a broadimplication for understanding open quantum systems described by non-hermitian Hamiltonian.