Criticality around the Spinodal Point of First-Order Quantum Phase Transitions (opens in new tab)

Universality and scaling are hallmarks of second-order phase transitions but are generally unexpected in first-order quantum phase transitions (FOQPTs). We present a microscopic theory showing that quantum criticality can emerge around the quantum spinodal point of FOQPTs where metastability disappears. We demonstrate that, at this instability, resonant local excitations dynamically decouple a Hilbert subspace characterized by an emergent discre...