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Localization-protected quantum order
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<p><a href="/facts/Many-body_localization/LB5Cf5Q5">Many-body localization</a> (MBL) is a dynamical phenomenon which leads to the breakdown of equilibrium statistical mechanics in isolated many-body systems. Such systems never reach local <a href="/facts/Thermal_equilibrium/wHqArIwx">thermal equilibrium</a>, and retain local memory of their initial conditions for infinite times. One can still define a notion of phase structure in these out-of-equilibrium systems. Strikingly, MBL can even enable new kinds of exotic orders that are disallowed in thermal equilibrium – a phenomenon that goes by the name of localization-protected quantum order (LPQO) or eigenstate order. </p>