Publications

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• Les Houches lectures on flow networks in biology

  Swarnavo Basu, Karen Alim

  SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 101 (2025) · published 10 October 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Flows are essential to transport resources over large distances. As soon as diffusion becomes time-limiting, flows are needed. Flows are key for the function of multiple human organs, from the blood vasculature to the lungs, the digestive tract, the lymphatic system, and many more. While physics governs the flow dynamics, biology's response to flows governs the flow network architecture. We start with the fluid physics of Stokes flow, the prerequisite to describe the flows in biological flow networks. Then we explore how the network adaptation dynamics of biological flow networks reorganize network architecture to minimize flow dissipation or homogenize transport, storing memories of past flows along the way.

• Symmetry-enforced minimal entanglement and correlation in quantum spin chains

  Kangle Li, Liujun Zou

  SciPost Phys. 19, 020 (2025) · published 17 July 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The interplay between symmetry, entanglement and correlation is an interesting and important topic in quantum many-body physics. Within the framework of matrix product states, in this paper we study the minimal entanglement and correlation enforced by the $SO(3)$ spin rotation symmetry and lattice translation symmetry in a quantum spin-$J$ chain, with $J$ a positive integer. When neither symmetry is spontaneously broken, for a sufficiently long segment in a sufficiently large closed chain, we find that the minimal Rényi-$\alpha$ entropy compatible with these symmetries is $\min\{ -\frac{2}{\alpha-1}\ln(\frac{1}{2^\alpha}({1+\frac{1}{(2J+1)^{\alpha-1}}})), 2\ln(J+1) \}$, for any $\alpha∈\mathbb{R}^+$. In an infinitely long open chain with such symmetries, for any $\alpha∈\mathbb{R}^+$ the minimal Rényi-$\alpha$ entropy of half of the system is $\min\{ -\frac{1}{\alpha-1}\ln(\frac{1}{2^\alpha}({1+\frac{1}{(2J+1)^{\alpha-1}}})), \ln(J+1) \}$. When $\alpha→ 1$, these lower bounds give the symmetry-enforced minimal von Neumann entropies in these setups. Moreover, we show that no state in a quantum spin-$J$ chain with these symmetries can have a vanishing correlation length. Interestingly, the states with the minimal entanglement may not be a state with the minimal correlation length.

• Skyrmion-vortex hybrid and spin wave solutions in ferromagnetic superconductors

  Shantonu Mukherjee, Amitabha Lahiri

  SciPost Phys. 19, 022 (2025) · published 18 July 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The coexistence of Ferromagnetism and superconductivity in so called ferromagnetic superconductors (FMSC) is an intriguing phenomenon which may lead to novel physical effects as well as applications. Here in this work we have explored the interplay of topological excitations, namely vortices and Skyrmions, in ferromagnetic superconductors using a field theoretic description of such systems. In particular, numerical solutions for the continuous spin field compatible to a given vortex profile are determined in absence and presence of a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) term. The solutions show that the spin configuration is like a Skyrmion but intertwined with the vortex structure — the radius of the the Skyrmion-like solution depends on the penetration depth and also the polarity of the Skyrmion depends on the sign of the winding number. Thus our solution describes a Skyrmion-vortex composite — but as a topological object in a bulk ferromagnetic superconductor, rather than on the interface of a ferromagnet-superconductor heterostructure. We have also determined the spin wave solutions in such systems in presence and absence of a vortex. In absence of a vortex, the frequency and the wave vector satisfy a cubic equation which leads to various interesting features. In particular, we have shown that in the low frequency regime the minimum in dispersion relation shifts from $k=0$ to a non-zero $k$ value depending on the parameters. We also discuss the nature of spin wave dispersion when the frequency $\omega$ is close to the photon mass $\tilde{m}$\,, for which we find multiple local minima in the dispersion curve. The group velocity of the spin wave would change its sign across such a minimum which is unique to FMSC. Also, the spin wave modes around the local minimum looks like roton mode in superfluid and hence called a magnetic roton. In presence of a vortex, the spin wave amplitude is shown to vary spatially such that the profile looks like that of a Néel Skyrmion. Possible experimental signature of both solutions are also discussed.

• Hands-on introduction to randomized benchmarking

  Ana Silva, Eliska Greplova

  SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 97 (2025) · published 21 July 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Randomized benchmarking techniques have been an essential tool for assessing the performance of contemporary quantum devices. The goal of this tutorial is to provide a pedagogical, self-contained, introduction to randomized benchmarking. With this intention, every chapter is also supplemented with an accompanying Python notebook, illustrating the essential steps of each protocol. In addition, we also introduce more recent trends in the field that bridge shadow tomography with randomized benchmarking, namely through the gate-set shadow protocol.

• Tau lepton averages by the HFLAV group

  Alberto Lusiani

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 17, 001 (2025) · published 23 July 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We document some features of the preliminary draft of the tau lepton averages for the incoming HFLAV report. We include the tau mass and lifetime averages, and a fit of measurements of tau branching fraction measurements. Elaborations of these results provide lepton universality tests and determination of $|V_{us}|$ with tau measurements.

• Measurement of low-energy Compton and neutron scattering in Si CCDs for dark matter searches

  Radomir Smida for the DAMIC-M Collaboration

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 015 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  For optimal sensitivity to low-mass dark matter candidates experiments like DAMIC-M employ skipper charged-coupled devices (CCDs) with detection threshold of just a few ionization charges. Ionization signals from small-angle Compton scatters of environmental $\gamma$-rays, an important component of the background in dark matter searches, must thus be characterized down to $O$(10 eV) energy. Using a $^{241}$Am $\gamma$-ray source, we report a precise measurement of scattering on Si atomic shell electrons in a skipper CCD with single-electron resolution. Notable differences are observed between data and theoretical expectations in the L-shell energy region ($<$150 eV). We also present preliminary data from a skipper CCD exposed to low-energy neutrons ($<$24 keV) from a $^{124}$Sb$^9$Be photoneutron source, demonstrating a measurement of the nuclear recoil ionization efficiency in Si down to few ionization charges.

• Hyperon physics at BESIII

  Viktor Thorén

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 15, 026 (2024) · published 3 April 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Spin polarization and entanglement are utilized by the BESIII experiment to learn more about the production and decay properties of hyperon-antihyperon pairs in a series of recent analyses of its unprecedented datasets at the $J/\psi$ and $\psi'$ resonances. This has lead to the observation of significant transverse polarisation in decays of $J/\psi$ or $\psi'$ into $\Lambda \bar{\Lambda}$, $\Sigma \bar{\Sigma}$, $\Xi \bar{\Xi}$, and $\Omega \bar{\Omega}$. Because of the non-zero polarization, the decay parameters for the most common hadronic weak decays of both hyperons and antihyperons could be determined independently for the first time. Comparing these to each other yields precise tests of direct, $\Delta S = 1$ CP-violation that complement measurements of kaon decays.

• The CYGNO/INITIUM experiment

  F. D. Amaro, E. Baracchini, L. Benussi , S. Bianco, C. Capoccia, M. Caponero, D. Santos Cardoso, G. Cavoto, A. Cortez, I. A. Costa, E. Dané, G. Dho, F. Di Giambattista, E. Di Marco, G. D’Imperio, F. Iacoangeli, H. P. L. Jùnior, G. S. P. Lopes, G. Maccarrone, R. D. P. Mano, R. R. M. Gregorio, D. J. G. Marques, G. Mazzitelli, A. G. McLean, A. Messina, C. M. B. Monteiro, R. A. Nobrega, I. Fonseca Pains, E. Paoletti, L. Passamonti, S. Pelosi, F. Petrucci, S. Piacentini, D. Piccolo, D. Pierluigi, D. Pinci, A. Prajapati, F. Renga, R. J. C. Roque, F. Rosatelli, A. Russo, J. M. F. dos Santos, G. Saviano, N. J. C. Spooner, R. Tesauro, S. Tommasini, S. Torelli

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 019 (2023) · published 3 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The CYGNO project for the development of a high precision optical readout gaseous TPC for directional Dark Matter search and solar neutrino spectroscopy will be presented. It is to be hosted at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. CYGNO peculiar features are the use of sCMOS cameras and PMTs coupled to GEMs amplification of a helium-based gas mixture at atmospheric pressure, in order to achieve 3D tracking with head tail capability and background rejection down to O(keV) energy, to boost sensitivity to low WIMP masses. The latest R&D results within the CYGNO project will be discussed along with the underground installation and operation of a 50 l prototype, soon to be followed by a O(1) m3 experiment demonstrator in 2024-2026. The latest results on the negative ion drift operation at atmospheric pressure within CYGNO optical readout approach will be illustrated, which is the aim of the ERC Consolidator Grant project INITIUM.

• Monte Carlos for tau lepton - Standard Model and new physics signatures

  Zbigniew Was

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 17, 002 (2025) · published 23 July 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  One of the purposes of High Energy accelerator experiments is confrontation of theory and measurements in ever new realms. Any new agreement extends theory applicability domain, any discrepancy hints to unexplained, calling for better calculations or new, deeper theory. Often one has to search for small contributions over large Standard Model background. Multidimensional signatures and complex background subtraction cuts imply that Monte Carlo techniques are indispensable. My talk included description of: KKMC Monte Carlo for $e^+e^- \to \tau^+\tau^- (n\gamma)$ (with $\tau$ decays), generation of additional lepton pairs of SM and New Physics, and contributions from anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments.

• Dijet production at EIC and interplay of Sudakov and saturation effects in Weizsacker-Williams TMD gluon distribution

  Piotr Kotko

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 8, 020 (2022) · published 11 July 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study production of dijets at the EIC using the small-x Improved Transverse Momentum Dependent factorization (ITMD), which is a framework based on the Color Glass Condensate theory. Dijet production in DIS is the simplest process directly coupled to the Weizsacker-Williams TMD gluon distribution, which is the only small-x gluon distribution possessing the gluon number density interpretation. We study various observables sensitive to the interplay of the Sudakov effects and the nonlinear effects, in particular the azimuthal correlations between the jet system and the scattered electron.