Kibble-Zurek mechanism in the Ising Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamical aspects of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism in the interacting Ising Field Theory, revealing how different crossing directions in coupling space affect scaling laws during quantum phase transitions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism in an interacting quantum field theory using the Truncated Conformal Space Approach.

Findings

Demonstrates dynamical scaling in the non-adiabatic regime

Provides analytic and numerical evidence for specific scaling laws

Analyzes higher cumulants of excess heat during transitions

Abstract

The Kibble-Zurek mechanism captures universality when a system is driven through a continuous phase transition. Here we study the dynamical aspect of quantum phase transitions in the Ising Field Theory where the critical point can be crossed in different directions in the two-dimensional coupling space leading to different scaling laws. Using the Truncated Conformal Space Approach, we investigate the microscopic details of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism in a genuinely interacting field theory. We demonstrate dynamical scaling in the non-adiabatic time window and provide analytic and numerical evidence for specific scaling properties of various quantities, including higher cumulants of the excess heat.