Dynamical topological transitions in the massive Schwinger model with a {\theta}-term

Understand

Aiming at a better understanding of anomalous and topological effects in gauge theories out-of-equilibrium, we study the real-time dynamics of a prototype model for CP-violation, the massive Schwinger model with a $\theta$-term.

• We identify dynamical quantum phase transitions between different topological sectors that appear after sufficiently strong quenches of the $\theta$-parameter.
• Moreover, we establish a general dynamical topological order parameter, which can be accessed through fermion two-point correlators and, importantly, which can be applied for interacting theories.
• Enabled by this result, we show that the topological transitions persist beyond the weak-coupling regime.