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Bridging Integrability and Chaos to Decipher Out-of-equilibrium Quantum Matter

Project description

New theoretical approaches for describing quantum matter out of equilibrium

Matter is composed of a enormous number of quantum particles whose dynamics are often dominated by interactions. In spite of this exceptional complexity, when a macroscopic object is close to an equilibrium state its gross properties are efficiently described by a rather simple set of macroscopic equations: the laws of thermodynamics. An outstanding challenge of theoretical physics is to devise a quantitative description of matter when it is far from any equilibrium state. The EU-funded BRICDOQ project aims to understand how and when equilibrium statistical mechanics emerges from the coherent dynamics of closed quantum systems and explain the fundamental mathematical structure underlying universal features of the dynamics. To achieve its goals, the project will elaborate new methods to describe the finite-time dynamics of quantum many-body systems using the extreme cases of 'integrable' and 'chaotic' systems as starting points. The idea is to characterise the dynamics quantitatively by pinpointing paradigmatic exactly solvable models.

Objective

The proposal tackles fundamental open questions about out-of-equilibrium quantum matter that have recently become of experimental and technological relevance. The main objectives are: (i) Understand how, and when equilibrium statistical mechanics emerges from the coherent dynamics of closed quantum systems. (ii) Explain the fundamental mathematical structure underlying universal dynamical features. I will address these issues by developing an overarching description of finite-time dynamics based on integrable and chaotic systems. The idea is to characterise quantitatively the dynamics by pinpointing paradigmatic exactly solvable models. The exact solutions of these models will also help to elaborate new analytical and numerical techniques. The proposal encompasses two main parts: WP1-2. WP1 is devoted to integrable systems. These are systems with a macroscopic number of local conservation laws. They play a key role in understanding out-of-equilibrium quantum matter because their dynamics is sufficiently constrained to be, to some extent, solvable. I will devise a general method for describing their large but finite time dynamics. In particular, I will characterise their approach to the asymptotic (generalized) hydrodynamic regime which I recently helped to identify. WP2 focusses on maximally chaotic systems, i.e. systems without local conservation laws. These systems are interesting because are able to model several generic dynamical features. I will characterise the maximally-chaotic dynamics in any spatial dimension using “dual-unitary quantum circuits”, a class of solvable periodically-driven systems that my collaborators and I recently introduced.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

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Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 212 933,76
Address
WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom

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Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 212 933,76
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