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  • Open Access

Measuring correlations using local and nonlocal quenches

Alexey G. Mikhaylenko1,2,* and Andrew G. Semenov1,3

  • *Contact author: mikhajlenko.ag@phystech.edu
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Phys. Rev. D 114, 076010 – Published 5 October, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5nmd-njw7

Abstract

We present a theoretical proposal for measuring correlation functions in a quantum field system based on the use of quantum quenches. Using the examples of massive and massless scalar field theories, we show that a short-term perturbation of the system leads to a dependence of the further evolution of the average field on the initial state’s correlation functions. Considering two types of perturbations, namely local and nonlocal quenches, we show which correlation functions can be measured in each of these cases. The proposed procedure can be applied to study non-Gaussian correlations.

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Phys. Rev. D 114, 076010– Published 5 October, 2026
  • Received 14 July 2026
  • Accepted 18 September 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.

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