



01834nas a2200217   4500008004100000245007700041210006900118260001400187520122500201100001101426700001301437700001601450700001501466700001201481700001401493700001501507700002501522700001701547700001501564856003701579       2023                        eng d00aNon-equilibrium critical scaling and universality in a quantum simulator0 aNonequilibrium critical scaling and universality in a quantum si  c9/19/20233 a<p>Universality and scaling laws are hallmarks of equilibrium phase transitions and critical phenomena. However, extending these concepts to non-equilibrium systems is an outstanding challenge. Despite recent progress in the study of dynamical phases, the universality classes and scaling laws for non-equilibrium phenomena are far less understood than those in equilibrium. In this work, using a trapped-ion quantum simulator with single-ion resolution, we investigate the non-equilibrium nature of critical fluctuations following a quantum quench to the critical point. We probe the scaling of spin fluctuations after a series of quenches to the critical Hamiltonian of a long-range Ising model. With systems of up to 50 spins, we show that the amplitude and timescale of the post-quench fluctuations scale with system size with distinct universal critical exponents. While a generic quench can lead to thermal critical behaviour, we find that a second quench from one critical state to another (i.e. a double quench) results in critical behaviour that does not have an equilibrium counterpart. Our results demonstrate the ability of quantum simulators to explore universal scaling beyond the equilibrium paradigm.</p>1 aDe, A.1 aCook, P.1 aCollins, K.1 aMorong, W.1 aPaz, D.1 aTitum, P.1 aPagano, G.1 aGorshkov, Alexey, V.1 aMaghrebi, M.1 aMonroe, C.  uhttps://arxiv.org/abs/2309.10856