Non-Gaussian distribution of collective operators in quantum spin chains. (12th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moreno-Cardoner, M; Sherson, J F; Chiara, G De
• Is Part Of: New journal of physics. Volume 18:Number 10(2016:Oct.)
• Publication Date: 2016-10-12
• Subjects: ultracold atoms -- Faraday spectroscopy -- spin systems -- probability distribution functions -- Binder cumulant; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics; Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/18/10/103015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-2630

Abstract

Abstract: We numerically analyse the behavior of the full distribution of collective observables in quantum spin chains. While most of previous studies of quantum critical phenomena are limited to the first moments, here we demonstrate how quantum fluctuations at criticality lead to highly non-Gaussian distributions. Interestingly, we show that the distributions for different system sizes collapse on the same curve after scaling for a wide range of transitions: first and second order quantum transitions and transitions of the Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless type. We propose and analyse the feasibility of an experimental reconstruction of the distribution using light–matter interfaces for atoms in optical lattices or in optical resonators.