# Emergent Glassy Dynamics in a Quantum Dimer Model

## TL;DR

This paper investigates the non-equilibrium dynamics of a 2D quantum dimer model, revealing how kinematic constraints lead to glassy behavior and slow relaxation near phase transitions.

## Contribution

It uncovers a mechanism of slow, glassy dynamics driven by emergent multi-defect processes in a quantum dimer model, linking dynamics to underlying phase transitions.

## Key findings

- Quenches from a columnar VBS quickly thermalize.
- Staggered VBS does not thermalize on accessible timescales.
- Kinematic constraints induce slow, glassy relaxation via multi-defect processes.

## Abstract

We consider the quench dynamics of a two-dimensional quantum dimer model and determine the role of its kinematic constraints. We interpret the non-equilibrium dynamics in terms of the underlying equilibrium phase transitions consisting of a BKT-transition between a columnar ordered valence bond solid (VBS) and a valence bond liquid (VBL), as well as a first order transition between a staggered VBS and the VBL. We find that quenches from a columnar VBS are ergodic and both order parameters and spatial correlations quickly relax to their thermal equilibrium. By contrast, the staggered side of the first order transition does not display thermalization on numerically accessible timescales. Based on the model's kinematic constraints, we uncover a mechanism of relaxation that rests on emergent, highly detuned multi-defect processes in a staggered background, which gives rise to slow, glassy dynamics at low temperatures even in the thermodynamic limit.