Topologically-Protected Long Edge Coherence Times in Symmetry-Broken Phases

Abstract

We argue that symmetry-broken phases proximate in phase space to symmetry-protected topological phases can exhibit dynamical signatures of topological physics. This dynamical, symmetry-protected "topological" regime is characterized by anomalously long edge coherence times due to the topological decoration of quasiparticle excitations, even if the underlying zero-temperature ground state is in a non-topological, symmetry-broken state. The dramatic enhancement of coherence can even persist at infinite temperature due to prethermalization. We find exponentially long edge coherence times that are stable to symmetry-preserving perturbations, and not the result of integrability.