Quantum adiabatic cycles and their breakdown

Abstract

An analytically solvable model for quasi-static transformations across quantum critical points featuring Bosonic quasi-particle excitations is presented. The model proves that adiabaticity breakdown is a general feature of universal slow dynamics in these systems. The existence of an "anti-adiabatic" dynamical phase with vanishing ground state fidelity in the slow drive limit is also proven. The relation of these findings with the Kibble-Zurek mechanism and their consequences on defect formation in many body systems ramped across a quantum phase transition are discussed.

9 pages, 2 figures