Theory of Out-of-Time-Ordered Transport
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We construct an effective field theory (EFT) that captures the universal behavior of out-of-time-order correlators (OTOCs) at late times in generic quantum many-body systems with conservation laws. The EFT hinges on a generalization of the strong-to-weak spontaneous symmetry-breaking pattern adapted to out-of-time-order observables and reduces to conventional fluctuating hydrodynamics when time-ordered observables are probed. We use the EFT to explain different power-law behavior observed in OTOCs at late times and show that many OTOCs are entirely fixed by conventional transport data at leading order. Nevertheless, we show that a specific combination of OTOCs is sensitive to novel transport parameters not visible in regular time-ordered correlators. We test our predictions in Hamiltonian and Floquet spin chains in one spatial dimension.
Source: Physical Review X
DOI: 10.1103/b5vq-s853
Authors: Ruchira Mishra, Jiaozi Wang, Silvia Pappalardi, Luca V. Delacrétaz
Institutions: University of Chicago, Osnabrück University, University of Cologne
Language: English
Topic: Quantum many-body systems
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,200
Awards: Nichtgleichgewichtsdynamik in 2D Clustern aus der
Perspektive von Quantentypikalität und Eigenzustandsthermalisierung, Klassische und quantenmechanische Arbeitsverteilungen in getriebenen Billards, Korrelationen zwischen Matrixelementen von wenigteilchen Observablen in Energieeigenbasen von vielteilchen Systemen, FOR 2692: Fundamental Aspects of Statistical Mechanics and the Emergence of Thermodynamics in NonEquilibrium Systems, G2797134947, G3356704239, Massivparalleles CPU/GPURechnersystem, G62979356, Quantum Field Theory beyond the Vacuum, EXC 2004: Materie und Licht für Quanteninformation (ML4Q), Kombinationen gedämpfter harmonischen Oszillationen als stabile Bausteine von Autokorrelationsfunktionen in Quantenvielteilchensystemen, G9000932590
OpenAlex ID: W7115600884