Dynamical phase transitions in dimerized lattices

Abstract

Nonequilibrium evolution of the quantum states extend the notion of quantum phase transition to a dynamical scenario, corresponding to the singular behavior of Loschmidt echo in quenched systems. In this work, we uncover the signature of dynamical phase transition in a quenched Aubry–André model with dimerized hoppings. By investigating the Loschmidt echo, we find a dynamical phase transition originating from the interplay between dimerized hopping and the strength of incommensurate potential. The dimerized hoppings may cause a dynamical phase transition in the process of the quench dynamics between the prequenched and postquenched system Hamiltonians.