A Field-Theoretic Framework for Work Statistics and Universal Scaling in Non-equilibrium Phase Transitions

Abstract

We develop a field-theoretic framework for work statistics in $O(N)$ models driven through criticality. By analyzing the dynamic renormalization group flow of composite power operators, we find the Kibble-Zurek scaling laws as a natural consequence of the flow, and we derive the scaling of work cumulants relevant to Kibble-Zurek scaling of topological defects from first principles, bypassing heuristic freeze-out argument. This yields the universal scaling $c_n \sim τ_Q^{-α_n}$ for the $n$-th work cumulant density: isolated quantum systems exhibit a scaling of $α_n = p(d+nz)ν/(1+pzν)$, whereas open quantum and classical systems undergo a dimensional collapse to $α_n = pdν/(1+pzν)$. Validated by exact Gaussian solutions and numerical simulations, our theory establishes a foundation for general work statistics far from equilibrium, thereby bridging stochastic thermodynamics and the renormalization group theory.