PIRSA:14050020 Conference

DOI10.48660/14050020

Conference/School: 4 Corners Southwest Ontario Condensed Matter Physics Symposium 2014

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}}
}

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.

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