Heidelberg 2015 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 36: Quantum Gases: Bosons V
Q 36.1: Talk
Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 11:00–11:15, P/H2
Generalized Gibbs Ensemble and Prethermalization — •Sebastian Erne1,2,4, Thomas Gasenzer1,2,3, and Jörg Schmiedmayer4 — 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 16, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany — 2ExtreMe Matter Institute EMMI, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Planckstraße 1, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany — 3Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik, INF 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany — 4Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), Atominstitut, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
In integrable systems non-trivial constants of motion in general prevent thermalization. The fundamental principle of entropy maximization under these constraints leads to the Generalized Gibbs ensemble (GGE). If a perturbative expansion leads to an effective integrable description, the system may be critically slowed down at a prethermalized state, connected to the corresponding GGE. In highlight of recent experiments, we consider two linearly coupled one-dimensional quasicondensates and explicitly calculate the GGE and time-evolution of the system following a quench in the linear coupling. Finite-size systems, even in the harmonic approximation, experience drastic changes dependent on the trap geometries and on position dependent squeezing and allow for a direct observation of the GGE. Understanding these systems is essential in the study of complete thermalization, where higher-order corrections are no longer negligible. The excellent experimental accessibility and controlability of the system allows to examine fundamental principles of statistical mechanics.