Separation of the Kibble-Zurek Mechanism from Quantum Criticality

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2602.19865v1
• Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:09:21 GMT
• Title: Separation of the Kibble-Zurek Mechanism from Quantum Criticality
• Authors: R. Jafari, Alireza Akbari,
• Abstract summary: We show that the correspondence between Kibble-Zurek scaling and quantum criticality does not hold generally.<n>Our results are based on models representative of a broad class of quasi-one-dimensional Fermi systems.
• Score: 0.5371337604556311
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: When a system is swept through a quantum critical point (QCP), the Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts that the average number of topological defects follows a universal power-law scaling with the ramp time scale. This scaling behavior is determined by the equilibrium critical exponents of the underlying phase transition. We show that the correspondence between Kibble-Zurek scaling and quantum criticality does not hold generally. In particular, the defect density can exhibit a suppression faster than the Kibble-Zurek prediction even when the quench crosses a critical point, while conventional Kibble-Zurek scaling may persist for quenches through a non-critical point. Our results, based on models representative of a broad class of quasi-one-dimensional Fermi systems, identify the dynamical conditions under which universal defect scaling emerges and clarify the relation between defect generation and equilibrium criticality.

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