Maximum velocity quantum circuits

We consider the long-time limit of out-of-time-order correlators (OTOCs) in two classes of quantum lattice models with time evolution governed by local unitary quantum circuits and maximal butterfly velocity $v_B=1$. Using a transfer matrix approach, we present analytic results for the long-time value of the OTOC on and inside the light cone. First, we consider `dual-unitary’ circuits with various levels of ergodicity, including the integrable and non-integrable kicked Ising model, where we show exponential decay away from the light cone and relate both the decay rate and the long-time value to those of the correlation functions. Second, we consider a class of kicked XY models similar to the integrable kicked Ising model, again satisfying $v_B=1$, highlighting that maximal butterfly velocity is not exclusive to dual-unitary circuits.