Quantum quenches, dynamical transitions and off-equilibrium quantum criticality

Abstract: Several mean-field computations have revealed the existence of an out of equilibrium dynamical transition induced by quantum quenching an isolated system starting from its symmetry broken phase. In this work we focus on the quantum phi^4 N-component field theory. By taking into account dynamical fluctuations at the Hartree-Fock level, corresponding to the leading order of the 1/N expansion, we derive the critical properties of the dynamical transition beyond mean-field theory (including at finite temperature). We find diverging time and length-scales, dynamic scaling and aging. Finally, we unveil a relationship with coarsening, an off-equilibrium dynamical regime that can be induced by quenching from the symmetric toward the symmetry broken phase.