Dynamical transitions and quantum quenches in mean-field models

We develop a generic method to compute the dynamics induced by quenches in completely connected quantum systems. These models are expected to provide a mean-field description at least of the short-time dynamics of finite-dimensional systems. We apply our method to the Bose-Hubbard model, to a generalized Jaynes-Cummings model, and to the Ising model in a transverse field. We find that the quantum evolution can be mapped onto a classical effective dynamics, which involves only a few intensive observables. For some special parameters of the quench, peculiar dynamical transitions occur. They result from singularities of the classical effective dynamics and are reminiscent of the transition recently found in the fermionic Hubbard model. Finally, we discuss the generality of our results and possible extensions.