Universal late-time dynamics in isolated one-dimensional statistical systems with topological excitations

TL;DR

This paper studies the universal long-time behavior of isolated one-dimensional systems with topological excitations, revealing a separation of time scales and a dominant role of kinks in relaxation dynamics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the universality of late-time dynamics in such systems and introduces phenomenological equations that accurately describe the relaxation process.

Findings

Universal long-time dynamics independent of microscopic details

Time-scale separation between radiation and kinks

Phenomenological equations match numerical results

Abstract

We investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of a class of isolated one-dimensional systems possessing two degenerate ground states, initialized in a low-energy symmetric phase. We report the emergence of a time-scale separation between fast (radiation) and slow (kink or domain wall) degrees of freedom. We find a universal long-time dynamics, largely independent of the microscopic details of the system, in which the kinks control the relaxation of relevant observables and correlations. The resulting late-time dynamics can be described by a set of phenomenological equations, which yield results in excellent agreement with the numerical tests.