Dynamics of heat and mass transport in a quantum insulator

TL;DR

This paper investigates how heat and mass transfer occur between two quantum insulators initially at different temperatures, using simulations and analytic theory to understand thermalization in Bose-Hubbard models.

Contribution

It combines real-time numerical simulations with an analytic quasiparticle transport theory to analyze temperature equilibration in quantum insulators.

Findings

Heat transfer leads to thermalization between insulators.

Simulation results match analytic quasiparticle transport predictions.

Provides insights into non-equilibrium dynamics of quantum many-body systems.

Abstract

The real time evolution of two pieces of quantum insulators, initially at different temperatures, is studied when they are glued together. Specifically, each subsystem is taken as a Bose-Hubbard model in a Mott insulator state. The process of temperature equilibration via heat transfer is simulated in real time using the Minimally Entangled Typical Thermal States algorithm. The analytic theory based on quasiparticles transport is also given.