  We study the pinning quantum phase transition in a Tonks-Girardeau gas, both
in equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium, using the ground state fidelity and the
Loschmidt echo as diagnostic tools. The ground state fidelity (GSF) will have a
dramatic decrease when the atomic density approaches the commensurate density
of one particle per lattice well. This decrease is a signature of the pinning
transition from the Tonks to the Mott insulating phase. We study the
applicability of the fidelity for diagnosing the pinning transition in
experimentally realistic scenarios. Our results are in excellent agreement with
recent experimental work. In addition, we explore the out of equilibrium
dynamics of the gas following a sudden quench with a lattice potential. We find
all properties of the ground state fidelity are reflected in the Loschmidt echo
dynamics i.e., in the non equilibrium dynamics of the Tonks-Girardeau gas
initiated by a sudden quench of the lattice potential.
