Scaling of geometric phases close to the quantum phase transition in the XY spin chain

Bond-Orbital-Resolved Piezoelectricity in Sp2-Hybridized Monolayer Semiconductors

Sp²-hybridized monolayer semiconductors (e.g., planar group III-V and IV-IV binary compounds) with inversion symmetry breaking (ISB) display piezoelectricity governed by their σ- and π-bond electrons. Here, we studied their bond-orbital-resolved electronic piezoelectricity (i.e., the σ- and π-piezoelectricity). We formulated a tight-binding piezoelectric model to reveal the different variations of σ- and π-piezoelectricity with the ISB strength (Δ). As Δ varied from positive to negative, the former decreased continuously, but the latter increased piecewise and jumped at Δ=0 due to the criticality of the π-electrons' ground-state geometry near this quantum phase-transition point. This led to a piezoelectricity predominated by the π-electrons for a small |Δ|. By constructing an analytical model, we clarified the microscopic mechanisms underlying the anomalous π-piezoelectricity and its subtle relations with the valley Hall effect. The validation of our models was justified by applying them to the typical sp² monolayers including hexagonal silicon carbide, Boron-X (X = N, P, As, Ab), and a BN-doped graphene superlattice.

The Quantum Geometric Tensor in a Parameter-Dependent Curved Space

We introduce a quantum geometric tensor in a curved space with a parameter-dependent metric, which contains the quantum metric tensor as the symmetric part and the Berry curvature corresponding to the antisymmetric part. This parameter-dependent metric modifies the usual inner product, which induces modifications in the quantum metric tensor and Berry curvature by adding terms proportional to the derivatives with respect to the parameters of the determinant of the metric. The quantum metric tensor is obtained in two ways: By using the definition of the infinitesimal distance between two states in the parameter-dependent curved space and via the fidelity susceptibility approach. The usual Berry connection acquires an additional term with which the curved inner product converts the Berry connection into an object that transforms as a connection and density of weight one. Finally, we provide three examples in one dimension with a nontrivial metric: an anharmonic oscillator, a Morse-like potential, and a generalized anharmonic oscillator; and one in two dimensions: the coupled anharmonic oscillator in a curved space.

Complexity and information geometry in the transverse XY model

We study Nielsen complexity and Fubini-Study complexity for the transverse XY spin chain and establish their nonanalyticity at the critical lines. We obtain the scaling behavior of both complexities near quantum phase transitions in the thermodynamic limit, as a function of the system parameters. The scaling of the Nielsen complexity with the system size is also established, close to criticality. We also obtain analytic expressions for the Fubini-Study complexity in some special cases for this model, while a numerical analysis in more generic situations is carried out. Our study clearly demonstrates the differences in the two notions of complexity in the transverse XY model.

Quantum phase transition in a non-HermitianXYspin chain with global complex transverse field

In this work, we investigate the quantum phase transition in a non-HermitianXYspin chain. The phase diagram shows that the critical points of Ising phase transition expand into a critical transition zone after introducing a non-Hermitian effect. By analyzing the non-Hermitian gap and long-range correlation function, one can distinguish different phases by means of different gap features and decay properties of correlation function, a tricky problem in traditionalXYmodel. Furthermore, the results reveal the relationship among different regions of the phase diagram, non-Hermitian energy gap and long-range correlation function.

Scaling of the Berry Phase in the Yang-Lee Edge Singularity

We study the scaling behavior of the Berry phase in the Yang-Lee edge singularity (YLES) of the non-Hermitian quantum system. A representative model, the one-dimensional quantum Ising model in an imaginary longitudinal field, is selected. For this model, the dissipative phase transition (DPT), accompanying a parity-time (PT) symmetry-breaking phase transition, occurs when the imaginary field changes through the YLES. We find that the real and imaginary parts of the complex Berry phase show anomalies around the critical points of YLES. In the overlapping critical regions constituted by the (0 + 1)D YLES and (1 + 1)D ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition (FPPT), we find that the real and imaginary parts of the Berry phase can be described by both the (0 + 1)D YLES and (1 + 1)D FPPT scaling theory. Our results demonstrate that the complex Berry phase can be used as a universal order parameter for the description of the critical behavior and the phase transition in the non-Hermitian systems.

Berry phase in an anti-PT symmetric metal-semiconductor complex system

Berry phase can be used to generate quantum state which is robust to environmental noises in quantum information processing. Recently, the relationship between Berry phase and quantum phase transition attracts great attention in the research about topological states of matter. Here, we investigate the behavior of Berry phase in an anti parity-time symmetric system consisting of a metal nanoparticle and semiconductor quantum dot. The change of Berry phase undergoes a sudden death around exceptional point, i.e., Berry phase keeps unchanged in symmetry unbroken region, while it can be well adjusted through changing the strength and frequency of input light in symmetry broken region. The result demonstrated in this paper may be of significant importance in quantum computation and topological physics.

Phase transition in phase transition lines of quantum XY model

Phase transitions in quantum systems, including symmetry breaking and topological types, always associate with gap closing and opening. We analyze the topological features of the quantum phase boundary of the XY model in a transverse magnetic field. Based on the results from graphs in the auxiliary space, we find that gapless ground states at boundary have different topological characters. On the other hand, in the framework of Majorana representation, the Majorana lattice is shown to be two coupled SSH chains. The analysis of the quantum fidelity for the Majorana eigen vector, which is shown to be identical to the square of that for ground states of the XY model, indicates the signature of the gapless phase transition (GPT). Furthermore analytical and numerical results for second-order derivative of groundstate energy density show that such a GPT obeys scaling behavior.

Analysis of the geometric phase for a nanowire-bridged superconducting Fabry-Perot resonator

The geometric phases of a nanowire-bridged superconducting Fabry-Perot resonator subjected to a microwave transmission have been investigated through its modelling into a RLC-circuit. Because the Hamiltonian of the system is a somewhat complicated form, special mathematical techniques, such as the invariant operator method and the unitary transformation approach, have been adopted in order to treat the system; These methods are very useful for managing complicated time-dependent Hamiltonian systems. We have rigorously evaluated the analytical geometric phases in both the Fock and coherent states. Typically, the geometric phases oscillate and the amplitude of such oscillations tend to grow over time. The influence of parameters of the system on the geometric phases has been analyzed in detail through the relevant illustrations. From our research, the concept of geometric phases and associated quantum mechanical characters of the system has been clarified. Our investigation for the geometric phases is useful for understanding topological features of the system, that take place through the evolution of the wave functions.

Experimental Measurement of the Quantum Metric Tensor and Related Topological Phase Transition with a Superconducting Qubit

A Berry curvature is an imaginary component of the quantum geometric tensor (QGT) and is well studied in many branches of modern physics; however, the quantum metric as a real component of the QGT is less explored. Here, by using tunable superconducting circuits, we experimentally demonstrate two methods to directly measure the quantum metric tensor for characterizing the geometry and topology of underlying quantum states in parameter space. The first method is to probe the transition probability after a sudden quench, and the second one is to detect the excitation rate under weak periodic driving. Furthermore, based on quantum metric and Berry-curvature measurements, we explore a topological phase transition in a simulated time-reversal-symmetric system. The work opens up a unique approach to explore the topology of quantum states with the QGT.

Classical analog of the quantum metric tensor

We present a classical analog of the quantum metric tensor, which is defined for classical integrable systems that undergo an adiabatic evolution governed by slowly varying parameters. This classical metric measures the distance, on the parameter space, between two infinitesimally different points in phase space, whereas the quantum metric tensor measures the distance between two infinitesimally different quantum states. We discuss the properties of this metric and calculate its components, exactly in the cases of the generalized harmonic oscillator, the generalized harmonic oscillator with a linear term, and perturbatively for the quartic anharmonic oscillator. Finally, we propose alternative expressions for the quantum metric tensor and Berry's connection in terms of quantum operators.

Accurate Formula for the Macroscopic Polarization of Strongly Correlated Materials

The many-body Berry phase formula for macroscopic polarization is approximated by a sum of natural orbital geometric phases with fractional occupation numbers accounting for the dominant correlation effects. This formula accurately reproduces the exact polarization in the Rice-Mele-Hubbard model across the band insulator-Mott insulator transition. A similar formula based on a reduced Berry curvature accurately predicts the interaction-induced quenching of Thouless topological charge pumping.

Fidelity susceptibility of the anisotropic XY model: The exact solution

We derive several closed-form expressions for the fidelity susceptibility (FS) of the anisotropic XY model in the transverse field. The basic idea lies in a partial fraction expansion of the expression so that all the terms are related to a simple fraction or its derivative. The critical points of the model are reiterated by the FS, demonstrating its validity for characterizing the phase transitions. Moreover, the critical exponents ν associated with the correlation length in both critical regions are successfully extracted by the standard finite-size scaling analysis.

Uhlmann curvature in dissipative phase transitions

A novel approach based on the Uhlmann curvature is introduced for the investigation of non-equilibrium steady-state quantum phase transitions (NESS-QPTs). Equilibrium phase transitions fall invariably into two markedly non-overlapping categories: classical phase transitions and quantum phase transitions. NESS-QPTs offer a unique arena where such a distinction fades off. We propose a method to reveal and quantitatively assess the quantum character of such critical phenomena. We apply this tool to a paradigmatic class of lattice fermion systems with local reservoirs, characterised by Gaussian non-equilibrium steady states. The relations between the behaviour of the Uhlmann curvature, the divergence of the correlation length, the character of the criticality and the dissipative gap are demonstrated. We argue that this tool can shade light upon the nature of non equilibrium steady state criticality in particular with regard to the role played by quantum vs classical fluctuations.

Symmetric Logarithmic Derivative of Fermionic Gaussian States

In this article, we derive a closed form expression for the symmetric logarithmic derivative of Fermionic Gaussian states. This provides a direct way of computing the quantum Fisher Information for Fermionic Gaussian states. Applications range from quantum Metrology with thermal states to non-equilibrium steady states with Fermionic many-body systems.

Scaling of geometric phase versus band structure in cluster-Ising models

We study the phase diagram of a class of models in which a generalized cluster interaction can be quenched by an Ising exchange interaction and external magnetic field. The various phases are studied through winding numbers. They may be ordinary phases with local order parameters or exotic ones, known as symmetry protected topologically ordered phases. Quantum phase transitions with dynamical critical exponents z=1 or z=2 are found. In particular, the criticality is analyzed through finite-size scaling of the geometric phase accumulated when the spins of the lattice perform an adiabatic precession. With this study, we quantify the scaling behavior of the geometric phase in relation to the topology and low-energy properties of the band structure of the system.

Majorana charges, winding numbers and Chern numbers in quantum Ising models

Mapping a many-body state on a loop in parameter space is a simple way to characterize a quantum state. The connections of such a geometrical representation to the concepts of Chern number and Majorana zero mode are investigated based on a generalized quantum spin system with short and long-range interactions. We show that the topological invariants, the Chern numbers of corresponding Bloch band, is equivalent to the winding number in the auxiliary plane, which can be utilized to characterize the phase diagram. We introduce the concept of Majorana charge, the magnitude of which is defined by the distribution of Majorana fermion probability in zero-mode states, and the sign is defined by the type of Majorana fermion. By direct calculations of the Majorana modes we analytically and numerically verify that the Majorana charge is equal to Chern numbers and winding numbers.

Quantum coherence and quantum phase transitions

We study the connections between local quantum coherence (LQC) based on Wigner-Yanase skew information and quantum phase transitions (QPTs). When applied on the one-dimensional Hubbard, XY spin chain with three-spin interaction, and Su-Schrieffer-Heeger models, the LQC and its derivatives are used successfully to detect different types of QPTs in these spin and fermionic systems. Furthermore, the LQC is effective as the quantum discord (QD) in detecting QPTs at finite temperatures, where the entanglement has lost its effectiveness. We also demonstrate that the LQC can exhibit different behaviors in many forms compared with the QD.

Quantum speed limit and a signal of quantum criticality

We study the quantum speed limit time (QSLT) of a coupled system consisting of a central spin and its surrounding environment, and the environment is described by a general XY spin-chain model. For initial pure state, we find that the local anomalous enhancement of the QSLT occurs near the critical point. In addition, we investigate the QSLT for arbitrary time-evolution state in the whole dynamics process and find that the QSLT will decay monotonously and rapidly at a large size of environment near the quantum critical point. These anomalous behaviors in the critical vicinity of XY spin-chain environment can be used to indicate the quantum phase transition point. Especially for the XX spin-chain environment, we find that the QSLT displays a sudden transition from discontinuous segmented values to a steady value at the critical point. In this case, the non-Makovianity and the Loschmidt echo are incapable of signaling the critical value of the transverse field, while the QSLT can still witness the quantum phase transition. So, the QSLT provides a further insight and sharper identification of quantum criticality.

Identifying the order of a quantum phase transition by means of Wehrl entropy in phase space

We propose a method to identify the order of a quantum phase transition by using area measures of the ground state in phase space. We illustrate our proposal by analyzing the well known example of the quantum cusp and four different paradigmatic boson models: Dicke, Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick, interacting boson model, and vibron model.

Quantum distance and the Euler number index of the Bloch band in a one-dimensional spin model

We study the Riemannian metric and the Euler characteristic number of the Bloch band in a one-dimensional spin model with multisite spins exchange interactions. The Euler number of the Bloch band originates from the Gauss-Bonnet theorem on the topological characterization of the closed Bloch states manifold in the first Brillouin zone. We study this approach analytically in a transverse field XY spin chain with three-site spin coupled interactions. We define a class of cyclic quantum distance on the Bloch band and on the ground state, respectively, as a local characterization for quantum phase transitions. Specifically, we give a general formula for the Euler number by means of the Berry curvature in the case of two-band models, which reveals its essential relation to the first Chern number of the band insulators. Finally, we show that the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition in zero temperature can be distinguished by the Euler number of the Bloch band.

Work and quantum phase transitions: quantum latency

We study the physics of quantum phase transitions from the perspective of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. For first-order quantum phase transitions, we find that the average work done per quench in crossing the critical point is discontinuous. This leads us to introduce the quantum latent work in analogy with the classical latent heat of first order classical phase transitions. For second order quantum phase transitions the irreversible work is closely related to the fidelity susceptibility for weak sudden quenches of the system Hamiltonian. We demonstrate our ideas with numerical simulations of first, second, and infinite order phase transitions in various spin chain models.

Scaling of geometric quantum discord close to a topological phase transition

Quantum phase transition is one of the most interesting aspects in quantum many-body systems. Recently, geometric quantum discord has been introduced to signature the critical behavior of various quantum systems. However, it is well-known that topological quantum phase transition can not be described by the conventional Landau's symmetry breaking theory, and thus it is unknown that whether previous study can be applicable in this case. Here, we study the topological quantum phase transition in Kitaev's 1D p-wave spinless quantum wire model in terms of its ground state geometric quantum discord. The derivative of geometric quantum discord is nonanalytic at the critical point, in both zero temperature and finite temperature cases. The scaling behavior and the universality are verified numerically. Therefore, our results clearly show that all the key ingredients of the topological phase transition can be captured by the nearest neighbor and long-range geometric quantum discord.

Observation of the ground-state geometric phase in a Heisenberg XY model

Geometric phases play a central role in a variety of quantum phenomena, especially in condensed matter physics. Recently, it was shown that this fundamental concept exhibits a connection to quantum phase transitions where the system undergoes a qualitative change in the ground state when a control parameter in its Hamiltonian is varied. Here we report the first experimental study using the geometric phase as a topological test of quantum transitions of the ground state in a Heisenberg XY spin model. Using NMR interferometry, we measure the geometric phase for different adiabatic circuits that do not pass through points of degeneracy.

Quantum fidelity and thermal phase transitions

We study the quantum fidelity approach to characterize thermal phase transitions. Specifically, we focus on the mixed-state fidelity induced by a perturbation in temperature. We consider the behavior of fidelity in two types of second-order thermal phase transitions (based on the type of nonanaliticity of free energy), and we find that usual fidelity criteria for identifying critical points is more applicable to the case of lambda transitions (divergent second derivatives of free energy). Our study also reveals that for fixed perturbations, the sensitivity of fidelity at high temperatures (where thermal fluctuations wash out information about the transition) is reduced. From the connection to thermodynamical quantities we propose slight variations to the usual fidelity approach that allow us to overcome these limitations. In all cases we find that fidelity remains a good precriterion for testing thermal phase transitions, and we use it to analyze the nonzero temperature phase diagram of the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model.

Subband anticrossing and the spin Hall effect in quantum wires

We report on numerical simulations of the intrinsic spin Hall effect in semiconductor quantum wires as a function of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling strength, the electron density, and the width of the wire. We find that the strength of the spin Hall effect does not depend monotonically on these parameters, but instead exhibits a local maximum. This behavior is explained by considering the dispersion relation of the electrons in the wire, which is characterized by the anticrossing of adjacent subbands. These results lead to a simple estimate of the optimal wire width for spin Hall transport experiments, and simulations indicate that this optimal width is independent of disorder. The anticrossing of adjacent subbands is related to a quantum phase transition in momentum space, and is accompanied by an enhancement of the Berry curvature and subsequently in the magnitude of the spin Hall effect.

Geometric phases and quantum phase transitions in open systems

The relationship is established between quantum phase transitions and complex geometric phases for open quantum systems governed by a non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian with accidental crossing of the eigenvalues. In particular, the geometric phase associated with the ground state of the one-dimensional dissipative Ising model in a transverse magnetic field is evaluated, and it is demonstrated that the related quantum phase transition is of the first order.

Macroscopic distinguishability between quantum states defining different phases of matter: fidelity and the Uhlmann geometric phase

We study the fidelity approach to quantum phase transitions (QPTs) and apply it to general thermal phase transitions (PTs). We analyze two particular cases: The Stoner-Hubbard itinerant electron model of magnetism and the BCS theory of superconductivity. In both cases we show that the sudden drop of the mixed state fidelity marks the line of the phase transition. We conduct a detailed analysis of the general case of systems given by mutually commuting Hamiltonians, where the nonanalyticity of the fidelity is directly related to the nonanalyticity of the relevant response functions (susceptibility and heat capacity), for the case of symmetry-breaking transitions. Further, on the case of BCS theory of superconductivity, given by mutually noncommuting Hamiltonians, we analyze the structure of the system's eigenvectors in the vicinity of the line of the phase transition showing that their sudden change is quantified by the emergence of a generically nontrivial Uhlmann mixed state geometric phase.

Information-theoretic differential geometry of quantum phase transitions

The manifold of coupling constants parametrizing a quantum Hamiltonian is equipped with a natural Riemannian metric with an operational distinguishability content. We argue that the singularities of this metric are in correspondence with the quantum phase transitions featured by the corresponding system. This approach provides a universal conceptual framework to study quantum critical phenomena which is differential geometric and information theoretic at the same time.

Quantum critical scaling of the geometric tensors

Berry phases and the quantum-information theoretic notion of fidelity have been recently used to analyze quantum phase transitions from a geometrical perspective. In this Letter we unify these two approaches showing that the underlying mechanism is the critical singular behavior of a complex tensor over the Hamiltonian parameter space. This is achieved by performing a scaling analysis of this quantum geometric tensor in the vicinity of the critical points. In this way most of the previous results are understood on general grounds and new ones are found. We show that criticality is not a sufficient condition to ensure superextensive divergence of the geometric tensor, and state the conditions under which this is possible. The validity of this analysis is further checked by exact diagonalization of the spin-1/2 XXZ Heisenberg chain.

Geometric phases and critical phenomena in a chain of interacting spins

The geometric phase can act as a signature for critical regions of interacting spin chains in the limit where the corresponding circuit in parameter space is shrunk to a point and the number of spins is extended to infinity; for finite circuit radii or finite spin chain lengths, the geometric phase is always trivial (a multiple of 2 π ). In this work, two related signatures of criticality are proposed which obey finite-size scaling and which circumvent the need for assuming any unphysical limits. They are based on the notion of the Bargmann invariant, whose phase may be regarded as a discretized version of the Berry phase. As circuits are considered which are composed of a discrete finite set of vertices in parameter space, they are able to pass directly through a critical point, rather than having to circumnavigate it. The proposed mechanism is shown to provide a diagnostic tool for criticality in the case of a given non-solvable one-dimensional spin chain with nearest-neighbour interactions in the presence of an external magnetic field.

Geometric phases and criticality in spin systems

A general formalism of the relation between geometric phases produced by circularly evolving interacting spin systems and their criticality behaviour is presented. This opens up the way for the use of geometric phases as a tool to probe regions of criticality without having to undergo a quantum phase transition. As a concrete example, a spin-1/2 chain with XY interactions is considered and the corresponding geometric phases are analysed. Finally, a generalization of these results to the case of an arbitrary spin system is presented.

Ground state overlap and quantum phase transitions

We present a characterization of quantum phase transitions in terms of the the overlap function between two ground states obtained for two different values of external parameters. On the examples of the Dicke and XY models, we show that the regions of criticality of a system are marked by the extremal points of the overlap and functions closely related to it. Further, we discuss the connections between this approach and the Anderson orthogonality catastrophe as well as with the dynamical study of the Loschmidt echo for critical systems.