Dynamical theory for one-dimensional fermions with strong two-body losses: Universal non-Hermitian Zeno physics and spin-charge separation

We study an interacting one-dimensional gas of spin-1/2 fermions with two-body losses. The dynamical phase diagram that characterizes the approach to the stationary state displays a wide quantum Zeno region, identified by a peculiar behavior of the lowest eigenvalues of the associated non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We characterize the universal dynamics of this Zeno regime using an approximation scheme based on an effective decoupling of charge and spin degrees of freedom, where the latter effectively evolve according to a non-Hermitian Heisenberg Hamiltonian. We present detailed results for the time evolution from initial states with one particle per site with either incoherent or antiferromagnetic spin order, showing how peculiar charge properties witnessed by the momentum distribution function build up in time.

Automated summary

We investigate an interacting one-dimensional gas of spin-1/2 fermions with two-body losses and find a wide quantum Zeno region in the dynamical phase diagram. The Zeno region is characterized by the peculiar behavior of the lowest eigenvalues of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. By effectively decoupling the charge and spin degrees of freedom, we analyze the universal dynamics of this Zeno regime using an approximation scheme based on a non-Hermitian Heisenberg Hamiltonian for the spin. Our results show the buildup of peculiar charge properties in time, as witnessed by the momentum distribution function.