Universal dissipative dynamics in strongly correlated quantum gases

Dissipation is an unavoidable feature of quantum systems, typically associated with decoherence and the modification of quantum correlations. In the study of strongly correlated quantum matter, we often have to overcome or suppress dissipation to uncover the underlying quantum phenomena. However, here we demonstrate that dissipation can serve as a probe for intrinsic correlations in quantum many-body systems. Applying tunable dissipation in ultracold atomic systems, we observe universal dissipative dynamics in strongly correlated one-dimensional quantum gases. Specifically, we find a universal stretched-exponential decay of the total particle number, where the stretched exponent measures the anomalous dimension of the spectral function—a parameter for characterizing strong quantum fluctuations. This approach offers a versatile framework for probing features of strongly correlated systems, including spin–charge separation and Fermi arcs in quantum materials. Although traditionally considered an obstacle to the study of quantum effects, dissipation has now been shown to enable the measurement of strong quantum fluctuations in one-dimensional atomic gases.