Ground-state reference systems for expanding correlated fermions in one dimension

Abstract

We study the sudden expansion of strongly correlated fermions in a one-dimensional lattice, utilizing the time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group method. Our focus is on the behavior of experimental observables such as the density, the momentum distribution function, and the density and spin structure factors. As our main result, we show that correlations in the transient regime can be accurately described by equilibrium reference systems. In addition, we find that the expansion from a Mott insulator produces distinctive peaks in the momentum distribution function at |k| ~ pi/2, accompanied by the onset of power-law correlations.

8 pages Revtex4, 7 eps-figures, minor changes, additional references, as published

References in corpus (10)

• Real time evolution using the density matrix renormalization group
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• Dephasing and the steady state in quantum many-particle systems
• Exact coherent states of a harmonically confined Tonks-Girardeau gas
• Nonthermal steady states after an interaction quench in the Falicov-Kimball model
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• Interaction-controlled transport of an ultracold Fermi gas
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