Research Projects

The thermodynamic description of systems with large degrees of freedom is a significant topic in physical phenomena. However, there is limited understanding of the organizing principle and physical effects occurring at different energy-scales due to real-time dynamics. This study aims to explore the physics of information scrambling, specifically the Out-of-Time-Ordered correlators (OTOC) in quantum systems. The concept of quantum scrambling, defined by Hayden and Preskill, is closely related to the physics of OTOCs. The study will focus on conformal field theories (CFT), which provide a mathematically well-defined notion of QFT as a deformation around the CFT itself. Two classes of questions will be explored: the effect of non-trivial boundaries for a CFT and the effect of various operator deformations in the CFT. For generic CFTs, conformal perturbation theory will be used for detailed study of correlators near the fixed point. For explicit computation, minimal models will be used, providing a unique situation for controlled OTOC calculations and a transition from integrable dynamics to ergodic dynamics. Similar aspects will be explored for Holographic CFTs, which are expected to be chaotic and fast-scrambling. The primary technique is rooted in string-inspired Holographic duality, where CFT correlators can be calculated by analyzing scattering processes in the bulk geometry. A non-trivial CFT deformation or boundary effect on the CFT correlators can be realized in the geometric description by tracking certain fields or hypersurfaces. The study aims to learn valuable lessons on QFT dynamics in general, with a focus on strongly coupled systems.