Kibble-Zurek Scaling from Linear Response Theory

While quantum phase transitions share many characteristics with thermodynamic phase transitions, they are also markedly different as they occur at zero temperature. Hence, it is not immediately clear whether tools and frameworks that capture the properties of thermodynamic phase transitions also apply in the quantum case. Concerning the crossing of thermodynamic critical points and describing its non-equilibrium dynamics, the Kibble-Zurek mechanism and linear response theory have been demonstrated to be among the very successful approaches. In the present work, we show that these two approaches are also consistent in the description of quantum phase transitions, and that linear response theory can even inform arguments of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism. In particular, we show that the relaxation time provided by linear response theory gives a rigorous argument for why to identify the gap as a relaxation rate, and we verify that the excess work computed from linear response theory exhibits Kibble-Zurek scaling.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the consistency of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism and linear response theory in describing quantum phase transitions. Linear response theory can provide arguments for the Kibble-Zurek mechanism, and the excess work calculated from linear response theory exhibits Kibble-Zurek scaling.