Equilibration of topological defects near the deconfined quantum multicritical point
Abstract Deconfined quantum criticality (DQC) arises from fractionalization of quasi-particles and leads to fascinating behaviors beyond the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson description of phase transitions. Here, we study the critical dynamics when driving a two-dimensional quantum magnet through a weakly fi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58477-z |
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| Summary: | Abstract Deconfined quantum criticality (DQC) arises from fractionalization of quasi-particles and leads to fascinating behaviors beyond the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson description of phase transitions. Here, we study the critical dynamics when driving a two-dimensional quantum magnet through a weakly first-order transition point near a putative deconfined multicritical point separating antiferromagnetic and spontaneously dimerized ground states. Numerical simulations show that the conventional Kibble-Zurek scaling (KZS) mechanism is inadequate for describing the annealing process. We introduce the concept of dual asymmetric KZS, where both a pseudocritical relaxation time and the deconfinement time enter and the scaling also depends on the driving direction according to a duality principle connecting the topological defects in the two phases. These defects require a much longer time scale for equilibration than the amplitude of the order parameter. Beyond advancing the DQC scenario, our scaling approach provides a new window into out-of-equilibrium criticality with multiple length and time scales. |
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| ISSN: | 2041-1723 |