Quantum mechanics

Conserved quantity

Mathematical physics

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Computer science

Transfer matrix

Mathematical optimization

Hamiltonian (control theory)

Ansatz

Physics

Integrable system

Mathematics

Bethe ansatz

Superconductivity

Quasiparticle

Computer vision

Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and Experiment

We consider quantum quenches in the integrable $SU(3)$-invariant spin chain (Lai-Sutherland model) which admits a Bethe ansatz description in terms of two different quasiparticle species, providing a prototypical example of a model solvable by nested Bethe ansatz. We identify infinite families of integrable initial states for which analytic results can be obtained. We show that they include special families of two-site product states which can be related to integrable ``soliton non-preserving'' boundary conditions in an appropriate rotated channel. We present a complete analytical result for the quasiparticle rapidity distribution functions corresponding to the stationary state reached at large times after the quench from the integrable initial states. Our results are obtained within a Quantum Transfer Matrix (QTM) approach, which does not rely on the knowledge of the quasilocal conservation laws or of the overlaps between the initial states and the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian. Furthermore, based on an analogy with previous works, we conjecture analytic expressions for such overlaps: this allows us to employ the Quench Action method to derive a set of integral equations characterizing the quasi-particle distribution functions of the post-quench steady state. We verify that the solution to the latter coincides with our analytic result found using the QTM approach. Finally, we present a direct physical application of our results by providing predictions for the propagation of entanglement after the quench from such integrable states.

Integrable quenches in nested spin chains I: the exact steady states