Prethermalization and universal dynamics in near-integrable quantum systems

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding how near-integrable quantum systems relax after a disturbance, emphasizing prethermalization, universal behavior, and experimental observations with ultracold gases.

Contribution

It synthesizes experimental and theoretical insights into prethermalization and universal dynamics, highlighting key concepts like the generalized Gibbs ensemble and non-thermal fixed points.

Findings

Experimental evidence of prethermalization in ultracold gases

Identification of universal scaling laws in quantum dynamics

Connection between theoretical models and experimental results

Abstract

We review the recent progress in the understanding of the relaxation of isolated near-integrable quantum many-body systems. Focusing on prethermalization and universal dynamics following a quench, we describe the experiments with ultracold atomic gases that illustrate these phenomena and summarize the essential theoretical concepts employed to interpret them. Our discussion highlights the key topics that link the different approaches to this interdisciplinary field, including the generalized Gibbs ensemble, non-thermal fixed points, critical slowing and universal scaling. Finally, we point to new experimental challenges demonstrating these fundamental features of many-body quantum systems out of equilibrium.