Dynamical quantum phase transition and thermal equilibrium in the lattice Thirring model

TL;DR

This study uses tensor network simulations to explore dynamical quantum phase transitions in the lattice Thirring model, revealing a threshold energy density for their occurrence and linking it to finite-temperature phase transitions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the occurrence of dynamical quantum phase transitions in the lattice Thirring model and connects these to finite-temperature phase behavior, which is a novel insight.

Findings

Dynamical quantum phase transitions occur without crossing the equilibrium critical line.

A threshold in initial energy density is necessary for these transitions.

Connection established between this threshold and finite-temperature phase transitions.

Abstract

Using tensor network methods, we simulate the real-time evolution of the lattice Thirring model quenched out of equilibrium in both the critical and massive phases and study the appearance of dynamical quantum phase transitions, as nonanalyticities in the Loschmidt rate. Although the presence of a dynamical quantum phase transition in the model does not correspond to quenches across the critical line of the equilibrium phase diagram at zero temperature, we identify a threshold in the energy density of the initial state, necessary for a dynamical quantum phase transition to be present. Moreover, in the case of the gapped quench Hamiltonian, we unveil a connection of this threshold to a transition between different regions in the finite-temperature phase diagram.