Topological classification of dynamical quantum phase transitions in the 1D <i>XY</i> model via critical mode analysis

Abstract Dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs), which serve as a theoretical framework for understanding far-from-equilibrium physics in quantum many-body systems, have recently been observed experimentally. Their topological properties are typically characterized by the winding number, which acts as an order parameter. While DQPTs exhibiting both integer and half-integer jumps in the winding number have been reported, the underlying mechanisms behind these distinct topological behaviors, as well as the potential existence of other topological classes, remain open questions. To address this, we investigate DQPTs in the one-dimensional (1D) XY model under a quench protocol. We show that the observed topological diversity originates from the nature of the critical modes, which we classify into two categories: boundary modes and interior modes. Specifically, critical interior modes always lead to DQPTs with an integer winding number, while critical boundary modes always result in DQPTs characterized by a half-integer winding number. By analyzing the number and classification of critical modes, we provide a classification of the topological properties of DQPTs in the 1D XY model. According to their distinct topological features, we categorize DQPTs into six types, three of which have not been previously identified in the literature. We discuss in detail the conditions associated with each type and present the corresponding dynamical phase diagrams. Our framework is not restricted to the XY model; it is applicable to other two-band models in 1D systems, including the SSH model, Kitaev chain, Rice–Mele model, and Creutz model.