Quantum Scars in Quantum Field Theory
arXiv:2212.01637 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.107.125005
Abstract
We develop the theory of quantum scars for quantum fields. By generalizing the formalisms of Heller and Bogomolny from few-body quantum mechanics to quantum fields, we find that unstable periodic classical solutions of the field equations imprint themselves in a precise manner on bands of energy eigenfunctions. This indicates a breakdown of thermalization at certain energy scales, in a manner that can be characterized via semiclassics. As an explicit example, we consider time-periodic non-topological solitons in complex scalar field theories. We find that an unstable variant of Q-balls, called Q-clouds, induce quantum scars. Some technical contributions of our work include methods for characterizing moduli spaces of periodic orbits in field theories, which are essential for formulating our quantum scar formula. We further discuss potential connections with quantum many-body scars in Rydberg atom arrays.
7+32 pages, 2 figures
References in corpus (8)
- Probing many-body dynamics on a 51-atom quantum simulator
- Emergent SU(2) dynamics and perfect quantum many-body scars
- Gravitational orbits, double-twist mirage, and many-body scars
- Quantum Lissajous Scars
- Controllable quantum scars in semiconductor quantum dots
- Thermalization and chaos in a 1+1d QFT
- Holographic solar systems and hydrogen atoms: non-relativistic physics in AdS and its CFT dual
- An Effective Field Theory for Large Oscillons