Dynamical signatures of the one-dimensional deconfined quantum critical point

Abstract

We study the critical scaling and dynamical signatures of fractionalized excitations at two different deconfined quantum critical points (DQCPs) in an S = 1/2 spin chain using the time evolution of infinite matrix product states. The scaling of the correlation functions and the dispersion of the conserved current correlations explicitly show the emergence of enhanced continuous symmetries at these DQCPs. The dynamical structure factors in several different channels reveal the development of deconfined fractionalized excitations at the DQCPs. Furthermore, we find an effective spin–charge separation at the DQCP between the ferromagnetic (FM) and valence bond solid (VBS) phases, and identify two continua associated with different types of fractionalized excitations at the DQCP between the X-direction and Z-direction FM phases. Our findings not only provide direct evidence for the DQCP in one dimension but also shed light on exploring the DQCP in higher dimensions.