Metamorphic dynamical quantum phase transition in double-quench processes at finite temperatures

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new class of dynamical quantum phase transitions called metamorphic DQPTs, which occur during double-quench processes at finite temperatures, expanding understanding of quantum system evolution.

Contribution

The paper develops a general framework for metamorphic DQPTs and demonstrates their occurrence in specific models like SSH and Kitaev chain, highlighting their distinct behavior from ordinary DQPTs.

Findings

Metamorphic DQPTs occur at zero and finite temperatures.

They are characterized by continuous non-overlap with initial states after double quenches.

Experimental setups similar to those for ordinary DQPTs can observe metamorphic DQPTs.

Abstract

By deriving a general framework and analyzing concrete examples, we demonstrate a class of dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs) in one-dimensional two-band systems going through double-quench processes. When this type of DQPT occurs, the Loschmidt amplitude vanishes and the rate function remains singular after the second quench, meaning the final state continually has no overlap with the initial state. This type of DQPT is named metamorphic DQPT to differentiate it from ordinary DQPTs that only exhibit zero Loschmidt amplitude and singular rate function at discrete time points. The metamorphic DQPTs occur at zero as well as finite temperatures. Our examples of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model and Kitaev chain illustrate the conditions and behavior of the metamorphic DQPT. Since ordinary DQPTs have been experimentally realized in many systems, similar setups with double quenches will demonstrate the metamorphic DQPT. Our findings thus provide additional controls of dynamical evolution of quantum systems.