Non-equilibrium Dynamics Following a Quench to the Critical Point in a Semi-infinite System

TL;DR

This paper investigates the non-equilibrium relaxation dynamics at the surface of a semi-infinite system after a quench to the critical point, revealing a new surface-specific decay exponent through analytical and numerical methods.

Contribution

It introduces and calculates a novel non-equilibrium surface exponent that differs from the bulk exponent in semi-infinite systems at criticality.

Findings

Local autocorrelation decays algebraically with a new surface exponent.

The new surface exponent is different from the bulk exponent.

Analytical and numerical methods confirm the existence of this new exponent.

Abstract

We study the non-equilibrium dynamics (purely dissipative and relaxational) in a semi-infinite system following a quench from the high temperature disordered phase to its critical temperature. We show that the local autocorrelation near the surface of a semi-infinite system decays algebraically in time with a new exponent which is different from the bulk. We calculate this new non-equilibrium surface exponent in several cases, both analytically and numerically.