Driven quantum systems
july 9 and 10
Quantum many-body physics has broadened its scope in recent decades from its traditional emphasis on low temperature correlated behaviors to dynamics of highly excited states, from linear response to far-from equilibrium dynamics, e.g. quantum quenches. This development has been stimulated both by experimental advances in cold atomic gases, but also by theoretical progress formulating and understanding the phenomena of quantum thermalization and many-body localization, among others. Application of these ideas to periodically driven (Floquet) problems continue to broaden and enrich the field—in particular, reviving interest in time-translation symmetry breaking. The lectures will begin with a survey of this body of knowledge, possibly highlighting less well developed areas. Interesting examples of non-Floquet problems will be presented in the second part of the lecture, including recent work with Eliot Kapit on enhanced quantum tunneling in adiabatic quantum computers.
first lecture
video
second lecture
video
about the lecturer
Vadim Oganesyan is Professor of Physics and department chair at the College of Staten Island, CUNY. He is also a member of the doctoral faculty in physics and Director of the Initiative for the Theoretical Sciences at the Graduate Center, CUNY.