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Topological edge modes without symmetry in quasiperiodically driven spin chains
Add to Calendar 2021-08-23T19:30:00 2021-08-23T20:30:00 UTC Topological edge modes without symmetry in quasiperiodically driven spin chains https://psu.zoom.us/j/94777536024?pwd=Y09idXJSMmorRUJPV3VhalJMTFFVZz09 Password: 342891
Start DateMon, Aug 23, 2021
3:30 PM
to
End DateMon, Aug 23, 2021
4:30 PM
Presented By
Aaron Friedman, University of Colorado
Event Series: CAMP Seminar

We present a 1d quasiperiodically driven spin chain whose edge states can coherently store quantum information, protected by a combination of localization, dynamics, and topology. Unlike analogous behavior in static and periodically driven (Floquet) spin chains, this model does not rely upon microscopic symmetry protection: Instead, the edge states are protected purely by emergent dynamical symmetries. We explore the dynamical signatures of this Emergent Dynamical Symmetry-Protected Topological (EDSPT) order through exact numerics, time evolving block decimation, and analytic high-frequency expansion, finding evidence that the EDSPT is a stable dynamical phase protected by bulk many-body localization up to (at least) stretched-exponentially long time scales, and possibly beyond. We argue that EDSPTs are special to the quasiperiodically driven setting, and cannot arise in Floquet systems. Moreover, we find evidence of a new type of boundary criticality, in which the edge spin dynamics transition from quasiperiodic to chaotic, leading to bulk thermalization.