Eigenstate Correlations, Thermalization, and the Butterfly Effect

Amos Chan, Andrea De Luca, and J. T. Chalker
Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 220601 – Published 7 June 2019
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Abstract

We discuss eigenstate correlations for ergodic, spatially extended many-body quantum systems, in terms of the statistical properties of matrix elements of local observables. While the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) is known to give an excellent description of these quantities, the phenomenon of scrambling and the butterfly effect imply structure beyond ETH. We determine the universal form of this structure at long distances and small eigenvalue separations for Floquet systems. We use numerical studies of a Floquet quantum circuit to illustrate both the accuracy of ETH and the existence of our predicted additional correlations.

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  • Received 5 December 2018
  • Revised 16 April 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.220601

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Statistical Physics & ThermodynamicsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Amos Chan, Andrea De Luca, and J. T. Chalker

  • Theoretical Physics, Oxford University, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 122, Iss. 22 — 7 June 2019

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