Thermal Suppression of Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions in Finite-Dimensional Systems A Quasi-Hermitian Framework

Abstract

We investigate dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs) in finite-dimensional systems prepared in thermal equilibrium states and subjected to a sudden quench. A mixed-state Loschmidt amplitude is constructed from first principles within a metric-stationary pseudo-Hermitian framework, providing a self-contained derivation of the finite-temperature quench dynamics. Applying this framework to an $N$-level model consisting of a two-level sector coupled to $N-2$ spectator states, we find that temperature controls the DQPTs through the redistribution of thermal weights among the eigenstates. This mechanism leads to a dimensionality-dependent threshold temperature that becomes finite when the Hilbert-space dimension reaches five, above which the Loschmidt amplitude loses all real zeros and the DQPTs are fully suppressed. The thermal suppression mechanism suggests a general principle for controlling dynamical criticality through thermal occupation, while the quasi-Hermitian framework provides the self-consistent foundation for its rigorous derivation.