Decoherent quantum critical quench dynamics in topological phases

We consider the problem of a quench across a quantum phase transition in open quantum systems, and the consequences of its associated non-equilibrium dynamics. We develop a framework for describing quantum critical quenches in the presence of decoherence. We reconstruct the regular Kibble-Zurek scaling for weak decoherence and find new emergent scaling behavior in strong decoherence limit. To investigate the scaling in topological systems, we compute quench-dependent Hall conductance, an experimentally measurable topological response. During the decoherent quench across the critical point, the Hall conductance exhibits a logarithmic divergence at the critical point and a power-law decaying tail in the late duration of the quench process. As a function of quench rate, the power-law decaying timescale follows different scaling based on the strength of the decoherence.