Slow relaxation and sensitivity to disorder in trapped lattice fermions after a quench

M. Schulz; C. A. Hooley; R.  Moessner

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.94.063643

Slow relaxation and sensitivity to disorder in trapped lattice fermions after a quench

M. Schulz, C. A. Hooley, R. Moessner

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Abstract

We consider a system of non-interacting fermions in one dimension subject to a single-particle potential consisting of (a) a strong optical lattice, (b) a harmonic trap, and (c) uncorrelated on-sited is order. After a quench, in which the center of the harmonic trap is displaced, we study the occupation function of the fermions and the time-evolution of experimental observables. Specifically, we present numerical and analytical results for the post-quench occupation function of the fermions,and analyse the time-evolution of the real-space density profile. Unsurprisingly for a non-interacting(and therefore integrable) system, the infinite-time limit of the density profile is non-thermal. However,due to Bragg-localization of the higher-energy single-particle states, the approach to even this non-thermal state is extremely slow. We quantify this statement, and show that it implies a sensitivity to disorder parametrically stronger than that expected from Anderson localization.

Original language	English
Article number	063643
Journal	Physical Review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics
Volume	94
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.94.063643
Publication status	Published - 27 Dec 2016

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© 2016 American Physical Society. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at journals.aps.org/pra / https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.94.063643
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CM DTC 2014 - 2022: EPSRC centre for doctoral training in condensed matter physics: Renewal of the CM-DTC
King, P. (PI)
EPSRC
1/08/14 → 31/01/24
Project: Standard
Topological Protection and NonEquilibriu: Topological Protection and NonEquilibrium States in Strongly Correlated Electron Systems
Wahl, P. (PI), Baumberger, F. (CoI), Davis, J. C. (CoI), Green, A. (CoI), Hooley, C. (CoI), Keeling, J. M. J. (CoI) & Mackenzie, A. (CoI)
EPSRC
1/09/11 → 31/08/17
Project: Standard

Cite this

@article{61dcece3cfea4a37881ba3b0b6891b08,

title = "Slow relaxation and sensitivity to disorder in trapped lattice fermions after a quench",

abstract = "We consider a system of non-interacting fermions in one dimension subject to a single-particle potential consisting of (a) a strong optical lattice, (b) a harmonic trap, and (c) uncorrelated on-sited is order. After a quench, in which the center of the harmonic trap is displaced, we study the occupation function of the fermions and the time-evolution of experimental observables. Specifically, we present numerical and analytical results for the post-quench occupation function of the fermions,and analyse the time-evolution of the real-space density profile. Unsurprisingly for a non-interacting(and therefore integrable) system, the infinite-time limit of the density profile is non-thermal. However,due to Bragg-localization of the higher-energy single-particle states, the approach to even this non-thermal state is extremely slow. We quantify this statement, and show that it implies a sensitivity to disorder parametrically stronger than that expected from Anderson localization.",

author = "M. Schulz and Hooley, {C. A.} and R. Moessner",

note = "M.S. acknowledges support from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (United Kingdom) via the CM-CDT program, Grant No. EP/L015110/1. C.A.H.{\textquoteright}s work on this paper was performed in part at the Aspen Center for Physics, which is supported by NSF Grant No. PHY-1066293. He is grateful to them for their hospitality. He is also thankful for ongoing support from the EPSRC (United Kingdom) via the TOPNES program, Grant No. EP/I031014/1.",

year = "2016",

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doi = "10.1103/PhysRevA.94.063643",

language = "English",

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T1 - Slow relaxation and sensitivity to disorder in trapped lattice fermions after a quench

AU - Schulz, M.

AU - Hooley, C. A.

AU - Moessner, R.

N1 - M.S. acknowledges support from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (United Kingdom) via the CM-CDT program, Grant No. EP/L015110/1. C.A.H.’s work on this paper was performed in part at the Aspen Center for Physics, which is supported by NSF Grant No. PHY-1066293. He is grateful to them for their hospitality. He is also thankful for ongoing support from the EPSRC (United Kingdom) via the TOPNES program, Grant No. EP/I031014/1.

PY - 2016/12/27

Y1 - 2016/12/27

N2 - We consider a system of non-interacting fermions in one dimension subject to a single-particle potential consisting of (a) a strong optical lattice, (b) a harmonic trap, and (c) uncorrelated on-sited is order. After a quench, in which the center of the harmonic trap is displaced, we study the occupation function of the fermions and the time-evolution of experimental observables. Specifically, we present numerical and analytical results for the post-quench occupation function of the fermions,and analyse the time-evolution of the real-space density profile. Unsurprisingly for a non-interacting(and therefore integrable) system, the infinite-time limit of the density profile is non-thermal. However,due to Bragg-localization of the higher-energy single-particle states, the approach to even this non-thermal state is extremely slow. We quantify this statement, and show that it implies a sensitivity to disorder parametrically stronger than that expected from Anderson localization.

AB - We consider a system of non-interacting fermions in one dimension subject to a single-particle potential consisting of (a) a strong optical lattice, (b) a harmonic trap, and (c) uncorrelated on-sited is order. After a quench, in which the center of the harmonic trap is displaced, we study the occupation function of the fermions and the time-evolution of experimental observables. Specifically, we present numerical and analytical results for the post-quench occupation function of the fermions,and analyse the time-evolution of the real-space density profile. Unsurprisingly for a non-interacting(and therefore integrable) system, the infinite-time limit of the density profile is non-thermal. However,due to Bragg-localization of the higher-energy single-particle states, the approach to even this non-thermal state is extremely slow. We quantify this statement, and show that it implies a sensitivity to disorder parametrically stronger than that expected from Anderson localization.

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DO - 10.1103/PhysRevA.94.063643

M3 - Article

SN - 1050-2947

VL - 94

JO - Physical Review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics

JF - Physical Review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics

IS - 6

M1 - 063643

ER -

Slow relaxation and sensitivity to disorder in trapped lattice fermions after a quench

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Projects

CM DTC 2014 - 2022: EPSRC centre for doctoral training in condensed matter physics: Renewal of the CM-DTC

Topological Protection and NonEquilibriu: Topological Protection and NonEquilibrium States in Strongly Correlated Electron Systems

Cite this