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SciPost Physics Lecture Notes

Probabilistic theories and reconstructions of quantum theory

Markus P. Müller

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 28 (2021) · published 31 March 2021 | · pdf

These lecture notes provide a basic introduction to the framework of generalized probabilistic theories (GPTs) and a sketch of a reconstruction of quantum theory (QT) from simple operational principles. To build some intuition for how physics could be even more general than quantum, I present two conceivable phenomena beyond QT: superstrong nonlocality and higher-order interference. Then I introduce the framework of GPTs, generalizing both quantum and classical probability theory. Finally, I summarize a reconstruction of QT from the principles of Tomographic Locality, Continuous Reversibility, and the Subspace Axiom. In particular, I show why a quantum bit is described by a Bloch ball, why it is three-dimensional, and how one obtains the complex numbers and operators of the usual representation of QT.
A short story of quantum and information thermodynamics

Alexia Auffèves

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 27 (2021) · published 23 March 2021 | · pdf

This Colloquium is a fast journey through the build-up of key thermodynamical concepts, i.e. work, heat and irreversibility -- and how they relate to information. Born at the time of industrial revolution to optimize the exploitation of thermal resources, these concepts have been adapted to small systems where thermal fluctuations are predominant. Extending the framework to quantum fluctuations is a great challenge of quantum thermodynamics, that opens exciting research lines e.g. measurement fueled engines or thermodynamics of driven-dissipative systems. On a more applied side, it provides the tools to optimize the energetic consumption of future quantum computers.
Extreme boundary conditions and random tilings

Jean-Marie Stéphan

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 26 (2021) · published 12 March 2021 | · pdf

Standard statistical mechanical or condensed matter arguments tell us that bulk properties of a physical system do not depend too much on boundary conditions. Random tilings of large regions provide counterexamples to such intuition, as illustrated by the famous 'arctic circle theorem' for dimer coverings in two dimensions. In these notes, I discuss such examples in the context of critical phenomena, and their relation to 1+1d quantum particle models. All those turn out to share a common feature: they are inhomogeneous, in the sense that local densities now depend on position in the bulk. I explain how such problems may be understood using variational (or hydrodynamic) arguments, how to treat long range correlations, and how non trivial edge behavior can occur. While all this is done on the example of the dimer model, the results presented here have much greater generality. In that sense the dimer model serves as an opportunity to discuss broader methods and results. [These notes require only a basic knowledge of statistical mechanics.]
A beginner's guide to non-abelian iPEPS for correlated fermions

Benedikt Bruognolo, Jheng-Wei Li, Jan von Delft, Andreas Weichselbaum

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 25 (2021) · published 25 February 2021 | · pdf

Infinite projected entangled pair states (iPEPS) have emerged as a powerful tool for studying interacting two-dimensional fermionic systems. In this review, we discuss the iPEPS construction and some basic properties of this tensor network (TN) ansatz. Special focus is put on (i) a gentle introduction of the diagrammatic TN representations forming the basis for deriving the complex numerical algorithm, and (ii) the technical advance of fully exploiting non-abelian symmetries for fermionic iPEPS treatments of multi-band lattice models. The exploitation of non-abelian symmetries substantially increases the performance of the algorithm, enabling the treatment of fermionic systems up to a bond dimension $D=24$ on a square lattice. A variety of complex two-dimensional (2D) models thus become numerically accessible. Here, we present first promising results for two types of multi-band Hubbard models, one with $2$ bands of spinful fermions of $\mathrm{SU}(2)_\mathrm{spin} \otimes \mathrm{SU}(2)_\mathrm{orb}$ symmetry, the other with $3$ flavors of spinless fermions of $\mathrm{SU}(3)_\mathrm{flavor}$ symmetry.
Phase transitions in the early universe

Mark Hindmarsh, Marvin Lüben, Johannes Lumma, Martin Pauly

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 24 (2021) · published 15 February 2021 | · pdf

These lecture notes are based on a course given by Mark Hindmarsh at the 24th Saalburg Summer School 2018 and written up by Marvin L\"uben, Johannes Lumma and Martin Pauly. The aim is to provide the necessary basics to understand first-order phase transitions in the early universe, to outline how they leave imprints in gravitational waves, and advertise how those gravitational waves could be detected in the future. A first-order phase transition at the electroweak scale is a prediction of many theories beyond the Standard Model, and is also motivated as an ingredient of some theories attempting to provide an explanation for the matter-antimatter asymmetry in our Universe. Starting from bosonic and fermionic statistics, we derive Boltzmann's equation and generalise to a fluid of particles with field dependent mass. We introduce the thermal effective potential for the field in its lowest order approximation, discuss the transition to the Higgs phase in the Standard Model and beyond, and compute the probability for the field to cross a potential barrier. After these preliminaries, we provide a hydrodynamical description of first-order phase transitions as it is appropriate for describing the early Universe. We thereby discuss the key quantities characterising a phase transition, and how they are imprinted in the gravitational wave power spectrum that might be detectable by the space-based gravitational wave detector LISA in the 2030s.

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Physics: Artificial Intelligence • Neural and Evolutionary Computing • Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics - Experiment • Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics - Theory • Condensed Matter Physics - Experiment • Condensed Matter Physics - Theory • Quantum Physics

Machine Learning and Quantum Devices

by Florian Marquardt

Version 2 (current version)
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Les Houches Summer School Lecture Notes

Efficient numerical simulations with Tensor Networks: Tensor Network Python (TeNPy)

Johannes Hauschild, Frank Pollmann

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 5 (2018) · published 8 October 2018 | · pdf

Tensor product state (TPS) based methods are powerful tools to efficiently simulate quantum many-body systems in and out of equilibrium. In particular, the one-dimensional matrix-product (MPS) formalism is by now an established tool in condensed matter theory and quantum chemistry. In these lecture notes, we combine a compact review of basic TPS concepts with the introduction of a versatile tensor library for Python (TeNPy) [https://github.com/tenpy/tenpy]. As concrete examples, we consider the MPS based time-evolving block decimation and the density matrix renormalization group algorithm. Moreover, we provide a practical guide on how to implement abelian symmetries (e.g., a particle number conservation) to accelerate tensor operations.

46 citations
Tangent-space methods for uniform matrix product states

Laurens Vanderstraeten, Jutho Haegeman, Frank Verstraete

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 7 (2019) · published 15 January 2019 | · pdf

In these lecture notes we give a technical overview of tangent-space methods for matrix product states in the thermodynamic limit. We introduce the manifold of uniform matrix product states, show how to compute different types of observables, and discuss the concept of a tangent space. We explain how to variationally optimize ground-state approximations, implement real-time evolution and describe elementary excitations for a given model Hamiltonian. Also, we explain how matrix product states approximate fixed points of one-dimensional transfer matrices. We show how all these methods can be translated to the language of continuous matrix product states for one-dimensional field theories. We conclude with some extensions of the tangent-space formalism and with an outlook to new applications.

35 citations
The Tensor Networks Anthology: Simulation techniques for many-body quantum lattice systems

Pietro Silvi, Ferdinand Tschirsich, Matthias Gerster, Johannes Jünemann, Daniel Jaschke, Matteo Rizzi, Simone Montangero

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 8 (2019) · published 18 March 2019 | · pdf

We present a compendium of numerical simulation techniques, based on tensor network methods, aiming to address problems of many-body quantum mechanics on a classical computer. The core setting of this anthology are lattice problems in low spatial dimension at finite size, a physical scenario where tensor network methods, both Density Matrix Renormalization Group and beyond, have long proven to be winning strategies. Here we explore in detail the numerical frameworks and methods employed to deal with low-dimension physical setups, from a computational physics perspective. We focus on symmetries and closed-system simulations in arbitrary boundary conditions, while discussing the numerical data structures and linear algebra manipulation routines involved, which form the core libraries of any tensor network code. At a higher level, we put the spotlight on loop-free network geometries, discussing their advantages, and presenting in detail algorithms to simulate low-energy equilibrium states. Accompanied by discussions of data structures, numerical techniques and performance, this anthology serves as a programmer's companion, as well as a self-contained introduction and review of the basic and selected advanced concepts in tensor networks, including examples of their applications.

16 citations
An introduction to spontaneous symmetry breaking

Aron J. Beekman, Louk Rademaker, Jasper van Wezel

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 11 (2019) · published 4 December 2019 | · pdf

Perhaps the most important aspect of symmetry in physics is the idea that a state does not need to have the same symmetries as the theory that describes it. This phenomenon is known as spontaneous symmetry breaking. In these lecture notes, starting from a careful definition of symmetry in physics, we introduce symmetry breaking and its consequences. Emphasis is placed on the physics of singular limits, showing the reality of symmetry breaking even in small-sized systems. Topics covered include Nambu-Goldstone modes, quantum corrections, phase transitions, topological defects and gauge fields. We provide many examples from both high energy and condensed matter physics. These notes are suitable for graduate students.

12 citations
Lecture notes on Generalised Hydrodynamics

Benjamin Doyon

SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 18 (2020) · published 28 August 2020 | · pdf

These are lecture notes for a series of lectures given at the Les Houches Summer School on Integrability in Atomic and Condensed Matter Physics, 30 July to 24 August 2018. The same series of lectures has also been given at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, October 2019. I overview in a pedagogical fashion the main aspects of the theory of generalised hydrodynamics, a hydrodynamic theory for quantum and classical many-body integrable systems. Only very basic knowledge of hydrodynamics and integrable systems is assumed.

10 citations

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Physics: Artificial Intelligence • Neural and Evolutionary Computing • Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics - Experiment • Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics - Theory • Condensed Matter Physics - Experiment • Condensed Matter Physics - Theory • Quantum Physics

Series contained in this Journal

46 citations

35 citations

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