Mixed state dynamical quantum phase transitions

Abstract

Preparing an integrable system in a mixed state described by a thermal density matrix , we subject it to a sudden quench and explore the subsequent unitary dynamics. Defining a version of the generalised Loschmidt overlap amplitude (GLOA) through the purifications of the time evolved density matrix, we claim that non-analyiticies in the corresponding "dynamical free energy density" persist and is referred to as mixed state dynamical quantum phase transitions (MSDQPTs). Furthermore, these MSDQPTs are uniquely characterised by a topological index constructed by the application of the Pancharatnam geometry on the purifications of the thermal density matrix; the quantization of this index however persists up to a critical temperature. These claims are corroborated analysing the non-equilibrium dynamics of a transverse Ising chain initially prepared in a thermal state and subjected to a sudden quench of the transverse field.