PIRSA:14050020

Entanglement, Ergodicity, and Many-Body Localization

Abanin, D. (2014). Entanglement, Ergodicity, and Many-Body Localization. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/14050020

Abanin, Dmitry. Entanglement, Ergodicity, and Many-Body Localization. Perimeter Institute, May. 01, 2014, https://pirsa.org/14050020 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:14050020,
            doi = {10.48660/14050020},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/14050020},
            author = {Abanin, Dmitry},
            keywords = {},
            language = {en},
            title = {Entanglement, Ergodicity, and Many-Body Localization},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2014},
            month = {may},
            note = {PIRSA:14050020 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Dmitry Abanin

Talk numberPIRSA:14050020
DOI10.48660/14050020
Collection
Talk Type Conference

Abstract

We are used to describing systems of many particles by statistical mechanics. However, the basic postulate of statistical mechanics – ergodicity – breaks down in so-called many-body localized systems, where disorder prevents particle transport and thermalization. In this talk, I will present a theory of the many-body localized (MBL) phase, based on new insights from quantum entanglement. I will argue that, in contrast to ergodic systems, MBL eigenstates are not highly entangled. I will use this fact to show that MBL phase is characterized by an infinite number of emergent local conservation laws, in terms of which the Hamiltonian acquires a universal form. Turning to the experimental implications, I will describe the response of MBL systems to quenches: surprisingly, entanglement shows logarithmic in time growth, reminiscent of glasses, while local observables exhibit power-law approach to “equilibrium” values. I will support the presented theory with results of numerical experiments. I will close by discussing other directions in exploring ergodicity and its breaking in quantum many-body systems.