Journal Article

PreJuSER-20707

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Probing the relaxation towards equilibrium in an isolated strongly correlated one-dimensional Bose gas

Trotzky, S. ; Chen, Y.-A. ; Flesch, A.FZJ* ; McCulloch, I. P. ; Schollwöck, U. ; Eisert, J. ; Bloch, I.

2012
Nature Publishing Group Basingstoke

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/nphys2232

Abstract: The problem of how complex quantum systems eventually come to rest lies at the heart of statistical mechanics. The maximum-entropy principle describes which quantum states can be expected in equilibrium, but not how closed quantum many-body systems dynamically equilibrate. Here, we report the experimental observation of the non-equilibrium dynamics of a density wave of ultracold bosonic atoms in an optical lattice in the regime of strong correlations. Using an optical superlattice, we follow its dynamics in terms of quasi-local densities, currents and coherences-all showing a fast relaxation towards equilibrium values. Numerical calculations based on matrix-product states are in an excellent quantitative agreement with the experimental data. The system fulfills the promise of being a dynamical quantum simulator, in that the controlled dynamics runs for longer times than present classical algorithms can keep track of.

Keyword(s): J

Note: We acknowledge stimulating discussions with B. Paredes, M. Cramer and C. Gogolin. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR 635, FOR 801), the European Union (NAMEQUAM, QESSENCE, MINOS, COMPAS), the European Young Investigator Awards (EURYI), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Optical Lattice Emulator (OLE) program.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Theoretische Nanoelektronik (PGI-2)
2. Theoretische Nanoelektronik (IAS-3)

Research Program(s):

1. Grundlagen für zukünftige Informationstechnologien (P42)

Appears in the scientific report 2012

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Database coverage:
; Current Contents - Social and Behavioral Sciences ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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