Tracing complex zeros of the quantum survival amplitude: How the energy distribution controls dynamical phase transitions
Pith reviewed 2026-05-11 02:26 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
The envelope of the energy distribution governs the zeros of the complex-time survival amplitude and their approach to the real axis as precursors of dynamical quantum phase transitions.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
The large-scale properties of the distribution of zeros are governed by the envelope of the energy distribution of the initial state and can be constructed from chains of periodic zeros associated with its dominant contributions. Zeros reach the real-time axis when two or more eigenstates become equally populated at the maximum of the envelope, providing a finite-size precursor of DQPTs. The framework becomes exact for BCS ground-state quenches in two-band models, and a minimal Gaussian model describes the short-time deformation of the zero pattern into the asymptotic two-level structure.
What carries the argument
The envelope of the energy distribution of the initial state, used to construct chains of periodic zeros via an approximation based on the stability of zeros of holomorphic functions.
If this is right
- Accurate approximation of zero distributions in quenched Ising models with varying interaction ranges.
- Exact construction for BCS ground-state quenches in two-band models.
- Explanation of anomalous DQPTs via delayed zero approach in the Gaussian spectrum model due to slow dephasing.
- Universal role of the energy envelope in shaping the entire zero distribution and dynamical critical behavior.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- The framework could be tested in other quench scenarios or with different initial states to see if the envelope always dominates.
- In larger systems, the precursor might sharpen into true transitions controlled by the envelope peak.
- Controlling the energy distribution shape could provide a way to tune the timing of dynamical transitions in experiments.
Load-bearing premise
The approximation framework based on the stability of zeros of holomorphic functions accurately captures the large-scale zero distribution and its connection to the energy envelope without significant errors from finite-size effects or higher-order contributions.
What would settle it
Numerical computation of the exact zeros for a finite Ising quench system compared to the predicted chains from the energy envelope, checking if deviations remain small as system size increases.
Figures
read the original abstract
Motivated by the advance of dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs), we analyze the zeros of the complex-time survival (Loschmidt) amplitude in finite quantum systems and develop a general framework for their approximation based on the stability of zeros of holomorphic functions. We show that the large-scale properties of the distribution of zeros are governed by the envelope of the energy distribution of the initial state and can be constructed from chains of periodic zeros associated with its dominant contributions. In this picture, zeros reach the real-time axis when two or more eigenstates become equally populated at the maximum of the envelope, providing a finite-size precursor of DQPTs. We apply the method to quenched ground states in the Ising model with tunable interaction range and demonstrate close agreement between the approximate and exact distributions of zeros. We prove that the approximate construction becomes exact for BCS ground-state quenches in two-band models. To describe short-time dynamics, we introduce a minimal Gaussian model with a nearly equidistant spectrum. Slow dephasing continuously deforms the initial zero pattern into the asymptotic two-level structure, explaining anomalous DQPTs as a delayed approach of zeros to the real-time axis. Our results identify the energy envelope as the key ingredient shaping dynamical critical behavior and provide a universal interpretation of the whole zero distribution of the complex-time survival amplitude.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The paper develops a general approximation framework for the zeros of the complex-time survival (Loschmidt) amplitude in finite quantum systems, based on the stability properties of zeros of holomorphic functions. It claims that the large-scale distribution of these zeros is governed by the envelope of the initial state's energy distribution and can be constructed from chains of periodic zeros associated with its dominant eigenstate contributions. Zeros reach the real-time axis when two or more eigenstates become equally populated at the maximum of this envelope, acting as a finite-size precursor to dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs). The framework is validated numerically on quenched Ising ground states with tunable interaction range (close agreement with exact distributions), proven exact for BCS ground-state quenches in two-band models, and supplemented by a minimal Gaussian model that captures short-time dynamics via slow dephasing deforming the zero pattern into the asymptotic two-level structure, thereby explaining anomalous DQPTs.
Significance. If the central claims hold, the work offers a universal interpretation of the entire zero distribution of the complex-time survival amplitude, with the energy envelope identified as the controlling factor for dynamical critical behavior. Strengths include the explicit construction from holomorphic zero stability, exact proofs for specific models (BCS two-band quenches), and numerical demonstrations that address finite-size effects rather than leaving them uncontrolled. The Gaussian minimal model provides insight into short-time anomalous behavior. This advances the understanding of DQPTs in finite systems beyond infinite-size or mean-field limits and could apply to other many-body quenches.
minor comments (2)
- Abstract: The phrase 'chains of periodic zeros associated with its dominant contributions' would benefit from a brief parenthetical example or reference to the relevant equation in the main text to improve immediate readability for non-specialists.
- The manuscript would be strengthened by adding a short discussion (perhaps in the conclusions) of the range of validity of the holomorphic stability approximation when the energy distribution has multiple comparable peaks rather than a single dominant envelope.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the detailed summary, positive significance assessment, and recommendation of minor revision. No specific major comments were provided in the report, so we have no points requiring direct response or changes to the manuscript at this stage. We are pleased that the central claims regarding the energy envelope governing the zero distribution and its relation to finite-size precursors of DQPTs are viewed favorably, along with the exact results for BCS models and the Gaussian minimal model.
Circularity Check
Derivation self-contained from holomorphic zero stability applied to survival amplitude
full rationale
The paper derives the large-scale zero distribution from the stability properties of zeros of holomorphic functions applied to the complex-time survival amplitude, constructs explicit chains from dominant eigenstate contributions, and validates the envelope-governed picture by exact proof for BCS quenches in two-band models plus numerical agreement for Ising quenches. No step reduces by construction to a fitted parameter renamed as prediction, no load-bearing self-citation chain is invoked, and the Gaussian minimal model is introduced as an illustrative ansatz for short-time deformation rather than a hidden assumption. The central claim therefore rests on independent mathematical properties and explicit demonstrations rather than circular re-expression of inputs.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (1)
- domain assumption Stability of zeros of holomorphic functions governs the approximation of Loschmidt amplitude zeros
Lean theorems connected to this paper
-
IndisputableMonolith/Cost/FunctionalEquation.leanwashburn_uniqueness_aczel unclear?
unclearRelation between the paper passage and the cited Recognition theorem.
We show that the large-scale properties of the distribution of zeros are governed by the envelope of the energy distribution of the initial state and can be constructed from chains of periodic zeros associated with its dominant contributions.
-
IndisputableMonolith/Foundation/AbsoluteFloorClosure.leanreality_from_one_distinction unclear?
unclearRelation between the paper passage and the cited Recognition theorem.
zeros reach the real-time axis when two or more eigenstates become equally populated at the maximum of the envelope
What do these tags mean?
- matches
- The paper's claim is directly supported by a theorem in the formal canon.
- supports
- The theorem supports part of the paper's argument, but the paper may add assumptions or extra steps.
- extends
- The paper goes beyond the formal theorem; the theorem is a base layer rather than the whole result.
- uses
- The paper appears to rely on the theorem as machinery.
- contradicts
- The paper's claim conflicts with a theorem or certificate in the canon.
- unclear
- Pith found a possible connection, but the passage is too broad, indirect, or ambiguous to say the theorem truly supports the claim.
Forward citations
Cited by 1 Pith paper
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Unified resonant-manifold framework for dynamical quantum phase transitions
A resonant-manifold framework unifies manifold and branch DQPTs by attributing them to resonances within the initial manifold and with a transitional manifold connected by low-order processes, shown in Z2 LGT quenches.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
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[1]
Partition the region of interestRinto ak×kgrid of subrectangles{R 1, . . . , Rk2 }
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[2]
For the calculations, we used the numerical thresholdϵ= 0.2
EvaluateW Ri for each subrectangle and discard all cells with|W Ri | ≤ϵ, to account for a numerical error thresholdϵ >0. For the calculations, we used the numerical thresholdϵ= 0.2
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[3]
Take each remaining subrectangle as a new region of interest and repeat step 1
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[4]
When sufficient precision is reached, terminate the recursion and return the centers of the final sub- rectangles, which now approximate the locations of zeros. Appendix B: Supporting analysis for the approximate distribution of zeros In this appendix, we provide technical details and heuristic arguments supporting the construction of the approximate zero...
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Density of zeros In this section, we show that the exact distribution of zeros inherits its coarse-grained density on largest scales from the distribution generated by the edge terms of the spectrum. A key property of the approximate zero distribution constructed from two-level chains is that it reproduces this density on large scales in the complex plane...
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[6]
Whenm+ 1 terms in the survival amplitude satisfy the envelope inequality Eq
Multilevel distribution of zeros Here we discuss in more detail the distribution of zeros connected with multilevel intersections of the terms from the envelope. Whenm+ 1 terms in the survival amplitude satisfy the envelope inequality Eq. (8) simultaneously in a strict sense, we can rewrite their sum as mX i=0 ℓji(z) =r j0(βj0jm) mX i=0 e−Eji(β′+it),(B4) ...
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[7]
Role of additional terms At first sight, the approximation underlying the con- struction of the zero distribution—restricting the survival amplitude locally to its two dominant terms—may ap- pear overly rough. While this approximation is indeed insufficient for even a qualitative reproduction of the time dependence of the survival amplitude, it captures t...
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[8]
Bogoliubov transformation and overlaps of BCS states in the Ising model The 1D transverse-field Ising model in the nearest- neighbor limit,α→ ∞in Eq. (10), can be mapped onto a system of noninteracting fermions via the standard Jordan-Wigner and Bogoliubov transformations [76]. In momentum space, the Hamiltonian is diagonalized by the Bogoliubov transform...
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[9]
Construction of the envelope In this subsection, we identify the eigenstates of the fi- nal Hamiltonian that form the envelope of the energy dis- tribution for a quenched BCS ground state, i.e., the states satisfying the dominance condition in Eq. (8). We begin by ordering the allowed momentum pairs±q according to the functionW(q) defined in Eq. (12), whi...
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[10]
Multilevel zeros in two-band models In the example shown in Fig. 5 for the nearest-neighbor Ising model, at most a single momentum mode satis- fies the condition|Z −q,q |= 1. This reflected the mono- tonic behavior of the excitation amplitude|Z −q,q |after a quench across the quantum critical point. As a result, zeros on the real-time axis arose from isol...
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[11]
The four states involved in the intersection are|ψ⟩,ˆγ † 1|ψ⟩,ˆγ† 2|ψ⟩ and ˆγ† 1ˆγ† 2|ψ⟩, where ˆγ † j ≡ˆγ † q∗ j ˆγ† −q∗ j , as illustrated by the sketch in Fig. 10(b). The simultaneous intersections lead to exact multilevel zeros through complete cancella- tion in the survival amplitude. 17 FIG. 10. Lines of zerosz n(q) and the excitation amplitude |Z−q...
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[12]
This distribution of zeros along the real-time axis corresponds to a multilevel zero with four- level intersections of the radial terms corresponding to states |ψ⟩,ˆγ† 1|ψ⟩,ˆγ† 2|ψ⟩and ˆγ† 1ˆγ† 2|ψ⟩as shown in the sketch. Appendix D: Analysis of the Gaussian model In this appendix, we present a technical analy- sis of the zero distribution of the survival...
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(19), the sum runs over a finite number of levels such that the level spacing remains positive
Unbounded regime In the definition of the Gaussian model in Eq. (19), the sum runs over a finite number of levels such that the level spacing remains positive. In the regime where the initial state is centered deep in the interior of the spectrum, the boundedness can be neglected and the sum may be approximated by an infinite sum. This formally yields the...
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(21), we distinguish two categories of its zeros
Bounded regime Based on the decomposition of the survival amplitude LG(z) in Eq. (21), we distinguish two categories of its zeros. The first consists of perturbed zeros ofL U(z) orC(z), which occur when the other term is smaller 18 FIG. 11. The first row shows the two types of zero distri- bution of the Gaussian modelL G(z) for constant level spac- ingε= ...
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