Quantum Phase Transitions via Quasi-adiabatic Evolution

Speaker: Cheng-Wei Liu

When: May 11, 2012 (Fri), 03:00PM to 04:00PM (add to my calendar)
Location: SCI 328

This event is part of the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Examining Committee:

  • Richard Averitt
  • Claudio Rebbi
  • Anatoli Polkovnikov
  • Anders Sandvik (advisor)

Abstract: I investigate a new quantum Monte Carlo algorithm for studying the statics and dynamics of quantum phase transitions. The method, called the "quasi-adiabatic quantum Monte Carlo method" is based on a non-equilibrium formalism in imaginary time and can be used to study the Kibble-Zurek mechanism in quantum quenches and other aspects of scaling out of equilibrium. I compare simulation results for 1D and 2D transverse-field Ising models with the adiabatic perturbation theory and more general scaling theory. In the end, I will also present the extension of this idea of non-equilibrium evolution to i) a classical quench problem and ii) an experimental proposal.