Old and New Scaling Laws in Quantum Quench

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding universal scaling laws in quantum quenches, highlighting both classical and holographic approaches and their implications for generic field theories.

Contribution

It summarizes new and old scaling laws in quantum quenches, emphasizing the role of holographic methods and their relevance to generic field theories.

Findings

Identification of multiple scaling regimes in quantum quenches.

Holographic techniques reveal new scaling behaviors.

Universal scaling laws apply beyond holographic models.

Abstract

The response of a many body system to a time dependent coupling which passes through or approaches a critical point displays universal scaling behavior. In some regimes, scaling laws have been known since the 1970's. Recently holographic techniques have been used to understand the origins of such scaling. Along the way, new scaling behaviors in other regimes have been found in holographic models, which have later been shown to hold in a generic field theory regardless of holography. This contribution summarizes recent work on these various scaling regimes.