Spectral form factors of topological phases

Signatures of dynamical quantum phase transitions and chaos can be found in the time evolution of generalized partition functions such as spectral form factors (SFF) and Loschmidt echoes. While a lot of work has focused on the nature of such systems in a variety of strongly interacting quantum theories, in this work, we study their behavior in short-range entangled topological phases, particularly focusing on the role of symmetry-protected topological zero modes. We show, using both analytical and numerical methods, how the existence of such zero modes in any representative system can mask the SFF with large period (akin to generalized Rabi) oscillations, hiding any behavior arising from the bulk of the spectrum. Moreover, in a quenched disordered system, these zero modes fundamentally change the late-time universal behavior reflecting the chaotic signatures of the zero-energy manifold. Our study uncovers the rich physics underlying the interplay of chaotic signatures and topological characteristics in a quantum system.