Dynamical localization in Z(2) lattice gauge theories
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Smith, Adam
Knolle, Johannes
Moessner, Roderich
Kovrizhin, Dmitry L
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We study quantum quenches in two-dimensional lattice gauge theories with fermions coupled to dynamical Z2 gauge fields. Through the identification of an extensive set of conserved quantities, we propose a generic mechanism of charge localization in the absence of quenched disorder both in the Hamiltonian and in the initial states. We provide diagnostics of this localization through a set of experimentally relevant dynamical measures, entanglement measures, as well as spectral properties of the model. One of the defining features of the models that we study is a binary nature of emergent disorder, related to Z2 degrees of freedom. This results in a qualitatively different behavior in the strong disorder limit compared to typically studied models of localization. For example, it gives rise to a possibility of a delocalization transition via a mechanism of quantum percolation in dimensions higher than 1D. We highlight the importance of our general phenomenology to questions related to dynamics of defects in Kitaev's toric code, and to quantum quenches in Hubbard models. While the simplest models we consider are effectively noninteracting, we also include interactions leading to many-body localizationlike logarithmic entanglement growth. Finally, we consider effects of interactions that generate dynamics for conserved charges, which gives rise to only transient localization behavior, or quasi-many-body localization.
Date Issued
2018-06-15
Date Acceptance
2018-05-29
Citation
Physical Review B, 2018, 97 (24)
ISSN
2469-9950
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review B
Volume
97
Issue
24
Copyright Statement
© 2018 American Physical Society.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000436036700006&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Condensed Matter
Physics
MANY-BODY LOCALIZATION
SYSTEMS
THERMALIZATION
FERMIONS
ANYONS
STATES
PHASE
MODEL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
245137
Date Publish Online
2018-06-22