Eigenvalue Crossing as a Phase Transition in Relaxation Dynamics

Gianluca Teza, Ran Yaacoby, Oren Raz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

When a system's parameter is abruptly changed, a relaxation toward the new equilibrium of the system follows. We show that a crossing between the second and third eigenvalues of the relaxation operator results in a singularity in the dynamics analogous to a first-order equilibrium phase transition. While dynamical phase transitions are intrinsically hard to detect in nature, here we show how this kind of transition can be observed in an experimentally feasible four-state colloidal system. Finally, analytical proof of survival in the thermodynamic limit of a many body (1D Ising) model is provided.

Original languageAmerican English
Article number207103
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume130
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - 19 May 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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