Criticality around the Spinodal Point of First-Order Quantum Phase Transitions
Fuente:
arXiv
Gespeichert in:
| Hauptverfasser: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Veröffentlicht: |
2026
|
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online-Zugang: | |
| Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
| _version_ | 1866914611247185920 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhang, Fan Wang, Chiao Quan, H. T. |
| author_facet | Zhang, Fan Wang, Chiao Quan, H. T. |
| contents | Universality and scaling are hallmarks of second-order phase transitions but are generally unexpected in first-order quantum phase transitions (FOQPTs). We present a microscopic theory showing that quantum criticality can emerge around the quantum spinodal point of FOQPTs where metastability disappears. We demonstrate that, at this instability, resonant local excitations dynamically decouple a Hilbert subspace characterized by an emergent discrete translational symmetry. Projecting the original Hamiltonian onto this subspace yields an effective Hamiltonian that exhibits a genuine second-order quantum phase transition (SOQPT) and the Kibble-Zurek scaling. We validate this framework in the tilted Ising chain which breaks $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry, and predict the absence of criticality in the staggered-field PXP model. This work indicates that the dynamics of FOQPTs is usually governed by an emergent critical point around the quantum spinodal point. Our results uncover a hidden criticality in FOQPTs, reshaping the conventional understanding of FOQPTs beyond the mean-field theory. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_06436 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Criticality around the Spinodal Point of First-Order Quantum Phase Transitions Zhang, Fan Wang, Chiao Quan, H. T. Statistical Mechanics Quantum Physics Universality and scaling are hallmarks of second-order phase transitions but are generally unexpected in first-order quantum phase transitions (FOQPTs). We present a microscopic theory showing that quantum criticality can emerge around the quantum spinodal point of FOQPTs where metastability disappears. We demonstrate that, at this instability, resonant local excitations dynamically decouple a Hilbert subspace characterized by an emergent discrete translational symmetry. Projecting the original Hamiltonian onto this subspace yields an effective Hamiltonian that exhibits a genuine second-order quantum phase transition (SOQPT) and the Kibble-Zurek scaling. We validate this framework in the tilted Ising chain which breaks $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry, and predict the absence of criticality in the staggered-field PXP model. This work indicates that the dynamics of FOQPTs is usually governed by an emergent critical point around the quantum spinodal point. Our results uncover a hidden criticality in FOQPTs, reshaping the conventional understanding of FOQPTs beyond the mean-field theory. |
| title | Criticality around the Spinodal Point of First-Order Quantum Phase Transitions |
| topic | Statistical Mechanics Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.06436 |