Non-equilibrium glassy arrest and discontinuous transitions at avoided quantum critical points (opens in new tab)

The non-equilibrium dynamics of an order parameter confined by an external constraint field are investigated within a spatially extended Belitz-Kirkpatrick-Vojta framework. A generic non-monotonic dissipation peak arises at avoided criticality due to the interplay between macroscopic free-energy flattening and microscopic disorder-induced trapping. Near this regime, suppressed deterministic forces enhance activated trapping, leading to an effect...