Relation between far-from-equilibrium dynamics and equilibrium correlation functions for binary operators

TL;DR

This paper reveals that, at high temperatures, the nonequilibrium dynamics of binary operators in quantum many-body systems can be described by equilibrium correlation functions, even far from equilibrium, supported by analytical and numerical evidence.

Contribution

It demonstrates that for high temperatures, the dynamics of binary operators outside the linear response regime are governed by equilibrium correlation functions, extending the understanding of nonequilibrium quantum dynamics.

Findings

Dynamics of binary operators are generated by equilibrium correlations at high temperatures.

Numerical simulations confirm analytical results in Heisenberg and XXZ models.

Results apply to pure and mixed states, broadening their relevance.

Abstract

Linear response theory (LRT) is one of the main approaches to the dynamics of quantum many-body systems. However, this approach has limitations and requires, e.g., that the initial state is (i) mixed and (ii) close to equilibrium. In this paper, we discuss these limitations and study the nonequilibrium dynamics for a certain class of properly prepared initial states. Specifically, we consider thermal states of the quantum system in the presence of an additional static force which, however, become nonequilibrium states when this static force is eventually removed. While for weak forces the relaxation dynamics is well captured by LRT, much less is known in the case of strong forces, i.e., initial states far away from equilibrium. Summarizing our main results, we unveil that, for high temperatures, the nonequilibrium dynamics of so-called binary operators is always generated by an equilibrium correlation function. In particular, this statement holds true for states in the far-from-equilibrium limit, i.e., outside the linear response regime. In addition, we confirm our analytical results by numerically studying the dynamics of local fermionic occupation numbers and local energy densities in the spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain. Remarkably, these simulations also provide evidence that our results qualitatively apply in a more general setting, e.g., in the anisotropic XXZ model where the local energy is a non-binary operator, as well as for a wider range of temperature. Furthermore, exploiting the concept of quantum typicality, all of our findings are not restricted to mixed states, but are valid for pure initial states as well.