Quantum dynamics in the thermodynamic limit
Abstract
The description of spontaneous symmetry breaking that underlies the connection between classically ordered objects in the thermodynamic limit and their individual quantum-mechanical building blocks is one of the cornerstones of modern condensed-matter theory and has found applications in many different areas of physics. The theory of spontaneous symmetry breaking, however, is inherently an equilibrium theory, which does not address the dynamics of quantum systems in the thermodynamic limit. Here, we will use the example of a particular antiferromagnetic model system to show that the presence of a so-called thin spectrum of collective excitations with vanishing energy—one of the well-known characteristic properties shared by all symmetry-breaking objects—can allow these objects to also spontaneously break time-translation symmetry in the thermodynamic limit. As a result, that limit is found to be able, not only to reduce quantum-mechanical equilibrium averages to their classical counterparts, but also to turn individual-state quantum dynamics into classical physics. In the process, we find that the dynamical description of spontaneous symmetry breaking can also be used to shed some light on the possible origins of Born’s rule. We conclude by describing an experiment on a condensate of exciton polaritons which could potentially be used to experimentally test the proposed mechanism.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- August 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.78.054301
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0804.3026
- Bibcode:
- 2008PhRvB..78e4301V
- Keywords:
-
- 67.85.De;
- 03.65.Yz;
- 03.75.Kk;
- Dynamic properties of condensates;
- excitations and superfluid flow;
- Decoherence;
- open systems;
- quantum statistical methods;
- collective and hydrodynamic excitations superfluid flow;
- Condensed Matter - Other Condensed Matter;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- 13 pages, 4 figures