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The nonequilibrium dynamics of quantum many-body systems have attracted growing attention due to various intriguing phenomena absent in equilibrium physics. One famous example is the quantum Mpemba effect, where the subsystem symmetry is restored faster under a symmetric quench from a more asymmetric initial state. The quantum Mpemba effect has been extensively studied in integrable and chaotic systems. In this Letter, we investigate symmetry restoration and quantum Mpemba effect in many-body localized systems with various initial states. We reveal that the symmetry can still be fully restored in many-body localization phases without approaching thermal equilibrium. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the presence of the quantum Mpemba effect is universal for any initial tilted product state, contrasting to the cases in the chaotic systems where the presence of the quantum Mpemba effect relies on the choice of initial states. We also provide a theoretical analysis of symmetry restoration and quantum Mpemba effects with the help of the effective model for many-body localization. This Letter not only sheds light on extending the quantum Mpemba effect to more non-equilibrium settings but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the many-body localization., Comment: 23 pages (including supplemental materials), 11 figures

Proposed as an elegant symmetry relating bosons and fermions, spacetime supersymmetry (SUSY) has been actively pursued in both particle physics and emergent phenomena in quantum critical points (QCP) of topological quantum materials. However, how SUSY casts the light on nonequilibrium dynamics remains open. In this letter, we investigate the Kibble-Zurek dynamics across a QCP with emergent $\mathcal{N}=2$ spacetime SUSY between the Dirac semimetal and a superconductor through large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulation. The scaling behaviors in the whole driven process are uncovered to satisfy the full finite-time scaling (FTS) forms. More crucially, we demonstrate that the emergent SUSY manifests in the intimate relation between the FTS behaviors of fermionic and bosonic observables, namely the fermions and bosons acquire the identical anomalous dimensions. Our work not only brings a fundamental new ingredient into the critical theory with SUSY, but also provide the theoretical guidance to experimental detect of QCP with emergent SUSY from the perspectives of Kibble-Zurek mechanism and FTS., Comment: 7+2 pages, 3 figures

In conventional quantum critical point (QCP) characterized by order parameter fluctuations, the celebrated Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM) and finite-time scaling (FTS) theory provide universal descriptions of the driven critical dynamics. However, in strongly correlated fermionic systems where gapless fermions are usually present in vicinity of QCP, the driven dynamics has rarely been explored. In this Letter, we investigate the driven critical dynamics in two-dimensional Dirac systems, which harbor semimetal and Mott insulator phases separated by the QCP triggered by the interplay between fluctuations of gapless Dirac fermions and order-parameter bosons. By studying the evolution of physical quantities for different driving rates through large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulation, we confirm that the driven dynamics is described by the FTS form. Accordingly, our results significantly generalize the KZM theory by relaxing its requirement for a gapped initial state to the system accommodating gapless Dirac fermionic excitation. Through successfully extending the KZM and FTS theory to Dirac QCP, our work not only brings new fundamental perspective into the nonequilibrium critical dynamics, but also provides a novel theoretical approach to fathom quantum critical properties in fermionic systems., Comment: 9+3 pages, 5+2 figures

We study the imaginary-time relaxation critical dynamics of the Neel-paramagnetic quantum phase transition in the two-dimensional (2D) dimerized S = 1/2 Heisenberg model. We focus on the scaling correction in the short-time region. A unified scaling form including both short-time and finite-size corrections is proposed. According to this full scaling form, improved short-imaginary-time scaling relations are obtained. We numerically verify the scaling form and the improved short-time scaling relations for different initial states using projector quantum Monte Carlo algorithm., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

Quantum criticality within Dirac fermions harbors a plethora of exotic phenomena, attracting sustained attention in the past decades. Nevertheless, the nonequilibrium dynamics therein has rarely been studied. To fill in the gap, we explore the imaginary-time relaxation dynamics in a typical Dirac quantum criticality belonging to chiral Heisenberg universality class. Performing large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulation, we unveil rich nonequilibrium critical phenomena from different initial states. Particularly, a new dynamic exponent characterizing the non-stationary evolution in the short-time state is determined as $\theta=-0.84(4)$, in sharp contrast with the prevalent belief that $\theta$ is positive as demonstrated in classical cases. Furthermore, we propose a universal dynamic scaling theory governing the fruitful nonequilibrium properties in Dirac quantum criticality. Armed with the scaling theory, we develop a new framework to investigate fermionic quantum criticality based on short-time dynamics, paving a promising avenue to fathoming quantum criticality in diverse fermionic systems with high efficiency., Comment: 7+5 pages,5+4 figures

Quantum computers promise a highly efficient approach to investigate quantum phase transitions, which describe abrupt changes between different ground states of many-body systems. At quantum critical points, the divergent correlation length and entanglement entropy render the ground state preparation difficult. In this work, we explore the imaginary-time evolution for probing the universal critical behavior as the universal information of the ground state can be extracted in the early-time relaxation process. We propose a systematic and scalable scheme to probe the universal behaviors via imaginary-time critical dynamics on quantum computers and demonstrate the validness of our approach by both numerical simulation and quantum hardware experiments. With the full form of the universal scaling function in terms of imaginary time, system size, and circuit depth, we successfully probe the universality by scaling analysis of the critical dynamics at an early time and with shallower quantum circuit depth. Equipped with quantum error mitigation, we also confirm the expected scaling behavior from experimental results on a superconducting quantum processor which stands as the first experimental demonstration on universal imaginary-time quantum critical dynamics., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures and supplemental materials

Deconfined quantum criticality (DQC) arises from fractionalization of quasi-particles and leads to fascinating behaviors beyond the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson (LGW) description of phase transitions. The unusual aspects of DQC in equilibrium also suggest exotic phenomena out of equilibrium, which are still largely unexplored. Here we study manifestations of DQC when driving (quantum annealing) a two-dimensional quantum magnet through a critical point separating antiferromagnetic and spontaneously dimerized ground states. Numerical simulations show that the celebrated Kibble-Zurek scaling (KZS) mechanism is inadequate for describing the annealing process. To explain our results, we introduce the concept of dual asymmetric KZS, where a deconfinement time enters in addition to the conventional relaxation time and the scaling also depends on the direction in which the system is driven through the critical point according to a duality principle connecting the topological defects in the two phases. These defects -- spinons in the dimerized phase and space-time hedgehogs in the antiferromagnetic phase -- require a much longer time scale for equilibration than the amplitude of the order parameter. Beyond the new insights into DQC, our scaling approach provides a new window into out-of-equilibrium criticality with multiple length and time scales., Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures

We explore the imaginary-time relaxation dynamics near quantum critical points with semi-ordered initial states. Different from the case with homogeneous ordered initial states, in which the order parameter $M$ decays homogeneously as $M\propto \tau^{-\beta/\nu z}$, here $M$ depends on the location $x$, showing rich scaling behaviors. Similar to the classical relaxation dynamics with an initial domain wall in Model A, which describes the purely dissipative dynamics, here as the imaginary time evolves, the domain wall expands into an interfacial region with growing size. In the interfacial region, the local order parameter decays as $M\propto \tau^{-\beta_1/\nu z}$, with $\beta_1$ being an additional dynamic critical exponent. Far away from the interfacial region the local order parameter decays as $M\propto \tau^{-\beta/\nu z}$ in the short-time stage, then crosses over to the scaling behavior of $M\propto \tau^{-\beta_1/\nu z}$ when the location $x$ is absorbed in the interfacial region. A full scaling form characterizing these scaling properties is developed. The quantum Ising model in both one and two dimensions are taken as examples to verify the scaling theory. In addition, we find that for the quantum Ising model the scaling function is an analytical function and $\beta_1$ is not an independent exponent., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures

Emergent symmetry is one of the characteristic phenomena in deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP). As its nonequilibrium generalization, the dual dynamic scaling was recently discovered in the nonequilibrium imaginary-time relaxation dynamics in the DQCP of the $J$-$Q_3$ model. In this work, we study the nonequilibrium imaginary-time relaxation dynamics in the $J$-$Q_2$ model, which also hosts a DQCP belonging to the same equilibrium universality class. We not only verify the universality of the dual dynamic scaling at the critical point, but also investigate the breakdown and the vestige of the dual dynamic scaling when the tuning parameter is away from the critical point. We also discuss its possible experimental realizations in devices of quantum computers., Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures

As proposed to describe putative continuous phase transitions between two ordered phases, the deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP) goes beyond the prevalent Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson (LGW) paradigm since its critical theory is not expressed in terms of the order parameters characterizing either state, but involves fractionalized degrees of freedom and an emergent symmetry. So far, great efforts have been spent on its equilibrium properties, but the nonequilibrium properties therein are largely unknown. Here we study the nonequilibrium dynamics of the DQCP via the imaginary-time evolution in the two-dimensional (2D) J-Q$_3$ model. We discover fascinating nonequilibrium scaling behaviors hinging on the process of fractionization and the dynamics of emergent symmetry associated with two length scales. Our findings not only constitute a new realm of nonequilibrium criticality in DQCP, but also offer a controllable knob by which to investigate the dynamics in strongly correlated systems., Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures

The fluctuations of massless Dirac fermion can not only turn a first-order bosonic phase transition (in the Landau sense) to a quantum critical point, but also work reversely to enhance the first-order transition itself, depending on the implementation of finite size effects in the coupling corrections. Here, we report a case study of the latter by employing quantum Monte Carlo simulation upon a lattice model in which the bosonic part featuring the Landau-Devonshire first-order phase transition and Yukawa coupled to the Dirac fermions. We find that the parameter range for the first-order phase transition becomes larger as the Yukawa coupling increases and the microscopic mechanism of this phenomena is revealed, at a quantitative level, as the interplay between the critical fluctuations and the finite-size effects. Moreover, the scaling behavior at the separation point between the first-order and the continuous phase transitions is found to belong to the chiral tricritical Gross-Neveu universality. Our result demonstrates that the interplay of massless Dirac fermions, critical fluctuations and the finite size effects could trigger a plethora of interesting phenomena and therefore great care is called for when making generalizations., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

We study the short-imaginary-time quantum critical dynamics (SITQCD) in the J-Q$_3$ spin chain, which hosts a quasi-long-range-order phase to a valence bond solid transition. By using the scaling form of the SITQCD with a saturated ordered phase, we are able to locate the critical point at $q_{\rm c}=0.170(14)$. We also obtain the critical initial slip exponent $\theta=-0.507(3)$ and the static exponent $\beta/\nu=0.498(2)$. More strikingly, we find that the scaling dimension of the initial order parameter $x_{0}$ is close to zero, which suggests that the initial order parameter is a marginal operator. As a result, there is no initial increase behavior of the order parameter in the short-imaginary-time relaxation process for this model, which is very different from the relaxation dynamics in the Ising-type phase transitions. Our numerical results are realized by the projector quantum Monte Carlo algorithm., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures

Dynamical phase transition (DPT) characterizes the abrupt change of dynamical properties in nonequilibrium quantum many-body systems. It has been demonstrated that extra quantum fluctuating modes besides the conventional order parameter field can drastically change the properties of equilibrium phase transitions. However, the counterpart phenomena in DPTs have rarely been explored. Here, we study the DPT in the Dirac system after a sudden quench, and find that the fermion fluctuations can round a putative first-order DPT into a dynamical critical point, which is referred to as a fermion-induced dynamical critical point (FIDCP). It is also a nonthermal critical point, in which the universal short-time scaling behavior emerges despite the system goes through a first-order transition after thermalization. In the novel scenario of FIDCP, the quantum Yukawa coupling $g_q$ is indispensable for inducing the FIDCP albeit irrelevant in the infrared scale. We call these variables {\it indispensable irrelevant scaling variables}. Moreover, a dynamical tricritical point which separates the first-order DPT and the FIDCP is discovered by tuning this indispensable irrelevant scaling variable. We further mention possible experimental realizations., Comment: 6+4 pages, 4+4 figures

The conventional Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM) describes the driven critical dynamics in the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson (LGW) spontaneous symmetry-breaking phase transitions. However, whether the KZM is still applicable in the deconfined quantum criticality, which is beyond the LGW paradigm, has not been explored. In this paper, we study the driven critical dynamics near a one-dimensional incarnation of deconfined quantum critical point between a ferromagnetic (FM) phase and a valance-bond-solid (VBS) phase. By investigating the dependence of the density of the topological defects on the driving rate, we verify the KZM in this Landau-forbidden critical point. Moreover, we find that both the FM and the VBS order parameters satisfy the finite-time scaling in the whole driven process. The effects of the emergent symmetry in the nonequilibrium dynamics are also studied., Comment: 5+3 pages, 4+2 figures

Fluctuations can change the phase transition properties drastically. An example is the fermion-induced quantum critical point (FIQCP), in which fluctuations of the massless Dirac fermions turn a putative Landau-de Gennes first-order phase transition (FOPT) with a cubic boson interaction into a continuous one. However, for the Landau-Devonshire theory, which characterizes another very large class of FOPTs, its fate under the coupling with extra fluctuations has not been explored. Here, we discover a new type of FIQCP, in which the Dirac fermion fluctuations round the boson Landau-Devonshire FOPT into a continuous phase transition. By using the functional renormalization group analyses, we determine the condition for the appearance of this FIQCP. Moreover, we point out that the present FIQCP can be a supersymmetric critical point. We finally show that the low-temperature phase diagram can provide distinct experimental evidences to detect this FIQCP., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, Accepted in PRB

We study the prethermal dynamics of the Gross-Neveu-Yukawa quantum field theory, suddenly quenched in the vicinity of a quantum critical point. We find that the universal prethermal dynamics is controlled by two fixed points depending on the size of the quench. Besides the usual equilibrium chiral Ising fixed point for a shallow quench, a dynamical chiral Ising fixed point is identified for a deep quench. Intriguingly, the latter is a non-thermal fixed point without any equilibrium counterpart due to the participation of gapless fermionic fields. We also find that in the scaling regime controlled by the equilibrium fixed point, the initial slip exponent is rendered negative if there are enough flavors of fermions, thus providing a unique signature of fermionic prethermal dynamics. We then explore the temporal crossover between the universal scaling regimes governed by the two universality classes. Possible experimental realizations are also discussed., Comment: 4.2 pages + supplemental materials, 2 figures

Tricriticality, as a sister of criticality, is a fundamental and absorbing issue in condensed matter physics. It has been verified that the bosonic Wilson-Fisher universality class can be changed by gapless fermionic modes at criticality. However, the counterpart phenomena at tricriticality have rarely been explored. In this paper, we study a model in which a tricritical Ising model is coupled to massless Dirac fermions. We find that the massless Dirac fermions result in the emergence of a new tricritical point, which we refer to as the chiral tricritical point (CTP), at the phase boundary between the Dirac semimetal and the charge-density-wave insulator. From functional renormalization group analysis of the effective action, we obtain the critical behaviors of the CTP, which are qualitatively distinct from both the tricritical Ising universality and the chiral Ising universality. We further extend the calculations of the chiral tricritical behaviors of Ising spins to the case of Heisenberg spins. The experimental relevance of the CTP in two-dimensional Dirac semimetals is also discussed., Comment: 4.3 pages + supplemental material, 2 figures, published version

We investigate the short time quantum critical dynamics in the imaginary time relaxation processes of finite size systems. Universal scaling behaviors exist in the imaginary time evolution and in particular, the system undergoes a critical initial slip stage characterized by an exponent $\theta$, in which an initial power-law increase emerges in the imaginary time correlation function when the initial state has zero order parameter and vanishing correlation length. Under different initial conditions, the quantum critical point and critical exponents can be determined from the universal scaling behaviors. We apply the method to the one- and two-dimensional transverse field Ising models using quantum Monte Carlo simulations. In the one-dimensional case, we locate the quantum critical point at $(h/J)_{c}=1.00003(8)$ \thirdrevise{in the thermodynamic limit}, and estimate the critical initial slip exponent $\theta=0.3734(2)$, static exponent $\beta/\nu=0.1251(2)$ \thirdrevise{by analyzing data on chains of length $L=32\sim 256$ and $L=48\sim 256$, respectively}. For the two-dimensional square-lattice system, the critical coupling ratio is given by $3.04451(7)$ \thirdrevise{in the thermodynamic limit} while the critical exponents are \thirdrevise{$\theta=0.209(4)$ and $\beta/\nu=0.518(1)$ estimated by data on systems of size $L=24\sim 64$ and $L=32\sim 64$, correspondingly.} Remarkably, the critical initial slip exponents obtained in both models are notably distinct from their classical counterparts, owing to the essential differences between classical and quantum dynamics. The short time critical dynamics and the imaginary time relaxation QMC approach can be readily adapted to various models., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures