Fractionalized Prethermalization in the One-Dimensional Hubbard Model

TL;DR

This paper investigates fractionalized prethermalization in a driven one-dimensional Hubbard model, revealing distinct quasi-steady states with different spin and charge temperatures, and classifies drive types affecting thermalization dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic analysis of fractionalized prethermalization in the driven Hubbard model using a time-dependent Schrieffer-Wolff transformation, linking drive categories to thermalization behavior.

Findings

Quasi-steady states with low spin and high charge temperatures emerge at intermediate frequencies.

Drive categories lead to distinct prethermalization dynamics.

Lifetimes are governed by quasiparticle decay and Floquet prethermal plateau stability.

Abstract

Prethermalization phenomena in driven systems are generally understood via a local Floquet Hamiltonian obtained from a high-frequency expansion. Remarkably, recently it has been shown that a driven Kitaev spin liquid with fractionalized excitations can realize a quasi-stationary state that is not captured by this paradigm. Instead distinct types of fractionalized excitations are characterized by vastly different temperatures-a phenomenon dubbed "fractionalized prethermalization". In our work, we analyze fractionalized prethermalization in a driven one-dimensional Hubbard model at strong coupling which hosts spin-charge fractionalization. At intermediate frequencies quasi-steady states emerge which are characterized by a low spin and high charge temperature with lifetimes set by two competing processes: the lifetime of the quasiparticles determined by Fermi's Golden rule and the exponentially long lifetime of a Floquet prethermal plateau. We classify drives into three categories, each giving rise to distinct (fractional) prethermalization dynamics. Resorting to a time-dependent variant of the Schrieffer-Wolff transformation, we systematically analyze how these drive categories are linked to the underlying driven Hubbard model, thereby providing a general understanding of the emergent thermalization dynamics. We discuss routes towards an experimental realization of this phenomenon in quantum simulation platforms.