Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Anisotropic Kondo line defect and ODE/IM correspondence

  Jingxiang Wu

  SciPost Phys. 15, 248 (2023) · published 20 December 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the anisotropic Kondo line defects in products of chiral SU(2) WZW models. We propose an ODE/IM correspondence for the anisotropic Kondo problems by considering the four-dimensional Chern Simons theory in the trigonometric case. We verify the claim both by explicit perturbative calculations in the ultraviolet and by exact WKB analysis in the infrared. In doing so, we derived the infrared dynamics of a large class of anisotropic line defects.

• Resonant spin Hall effect of light in random photonic arrays

  Federico Carlini, Nicolas Cherroret

  SciPost Phys. 14, 104 (2023) · published 10 May 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  It has been recently shown that the coherent component of light propagating in transversally disordered media, the so-called coherent mode, exhibits an optical spin Hall effect (SHE). In non-resonant materials, however, this phenomenon shows up at a spatial scale much larger than the mean free path, making its observation challenging due to the exponential attenuation of the coherent mode. Here, we show that in disordered photonic arrays exhibiting Mie resonances, the SHE on the contrary appears at a scale smaller than the mean free path if one operates in the close vicinity of the lowest transverse-magnetic resonance of the array. In combination with a weak measurement, this gives rise to a giant SHE that should be observable in optically-thin media. Furthermore, we show that by additionally exploiting the cooperative emission of a flash of light following the abrupt extinction of the incoming beam, one can achieve a time-dependent SHE, observable at large optical thickness as well.

• The droplet formation-dissolution transition in different ensembles: Finite-size scaling from two perspectives

  Franz Paul Spitzner, Johannes Zierenberg, Wolfhard Janke

  SciPost Phys. 5, 062 (2018) · published 13 December 2018 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The formation and dissolution of a droplet is an important mechanism related to various nucleation phenomena. Here, we address the droplet formation-dissolution transition in a two-dimensional Lennard-Jones gas to demonstrate a consistent finite-size scaling approach from two perspectives using orthogonal control parameters. For the canonical ensemble, this means that we fix the temperature while varying the density and vice versa. Using specialised parallel multicanonical methods for both cases, we confirm analytical predictions at fixed temperature (rigorously only proven for lattice systems) and corresponding scaling predictions from expansions at fixed density. Importantly, our methodological approach provides us with reference quantities from the grand canonical ensemble that enter the analytical predictions. Our orthogonal finite-size scaling setup can be exploited for theoretical and experimental investigations of general nucleation phenomena - if one identifies the corresponding reference ensemble and adapts the theory accordingly. In this case, our numerical approach can be readily translated to the corresponding ensembles and thereby proves very useful for numerical studies of equilibrium droplet formation, in general.

• Relative cluster entropy for power-law correlated sequences

  Anna Carbone, Linda Ponta

  SciPost Phys. 13, 076 (2022) · published 30 September 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We propose an information-theoretical measure, the \textit{relative cluster entropy} $\mathcal{D_{C}}[P \| Q] $, to discriminate among cluster partitions characterised by probability distribution functions $P$ and $Q$. The measure is illustrated with the clusters generated by pairs of fractional Brownian motions with Hurst exponents $H_1$ and $H_2$ respectively. For subdiffusive, normal and superdiffusive sequences, the relative entropy sensibly depends on the difference between $H_1$ and $H_2$. By using the \textit{minimum relative entropy} principle, cluster sequences characterized by different correlation degrees are distinguished and the optimal Hurst exponent is selected. As a case study, real-world cluster partitions of market price series are compared to those obtained from fully uncorrelated sequences (simple Browniam motions) assumed as a model. The \textit{minimum relative cluster entropy} yields optimal Hurst exponents $H_1=0.55$, $H_1=0.57$, and $H_1=0.63$ respectively for the prices of DJIA, S\&P500, NASDAQ: a clear indication of non-markovianity. Finally, we derive the analytical expression of the relative cluster entropy and the outcomes are discussed for arbitrary pairs of power-laws probability distribution functions of continuous random variables.

• Multiple Andreev reflections in diffusive SINIS and SIFIS junctions

  Artem V. Polkin, Pavel A. Ioselevich

  SciPost Phys. 15, 100 (2023) · published 18 September 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study Multiple Andreev Reflections in long diffusive superconductor(S)-normal metal(N)-superconductor junctions with low-transparency interfaces. Assuming strong thermalization in the weak link, we calculate the current-voltage dependence $I(V)$. At intermediate temperatures, $\varepsilon_\mathrm{Th}\ll T\ll\Delta$, the current is dominated by noncoherent multiple Andreev reflections and is obtained analytically. The results are generalized to a ferromagnetic junction. We find that the exchange field produces a non-trivial splitting of the subharmonic gap structure. This effect relies on thermalization and vanishes in SFS junctions with no energy relaxation in the weak link.

• Fermionic quantum computation with Cooper pair splitters

  Kostas Vilkelis, Antonio Manesco, Juan Daniel Torres Luna, Sebastian Miles, Michael Wimmer, Anton Akhmerov

  SciPost Phys. 16, 135 (2024) · published 27 May 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We propose a practical implementation of a universal quantum computer that uses local fermionic modes (LFM) rather than qubits. The device consists of quantum dots tunnel-coupled by a hybrid superconducting island and a tunable capacitive coupling between the dots. We show that coherent control of Cooper pair splitting, elastic cotunneling, and Coulomb interactions implements the universal set of quantum gates defined by Bravyi and Kitaev [Ann. Phys. 298, 210 (2002)]. Due to the similarity with charge qubits, we expect charge noise to be the main source of decoherence. For this reason, we also consider an alternative design where the quantum dots have tunable coupling to the superconductor. In this second device design, we show that there is a sweet spot for which the local fermionic modes are charge neutral, making the device insensitive to charge noise effects. Finally, we compare both designs and their experimental limitations and suggest future efforts to overcome them.

• Connected correlations in partitioning protocols: A case study and beyond

  Saverio Bocini

  SciPost Phys. 15, 027 (2023) · published 25 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The assumption of local relaxation in inhomogeneous quantum quenches allows to compute asymptotically the expectation value of local observables via hydrodynamic arguments known as generalized hydrodynamics (GHD). In this work we address formally the question of when an observable is local enough to be described by GHD using the playground of partitioning protocols and non-interacting time evolution. We show that any state evolving under a quadratic Hamiltonian can be described via a set of decoupled dynamical fields such that one of those fields can be identified with a space-time-dependent generalisation of the root density. By studying the contribution to a connected spin correlation of each of those fields independently, we derive the locality conditions under which an observable can be described using the root density only. That shows both the regime of validity for hydrodynamic approaches that aim at describing the asymptotic value of observables in term of the root density only, such as GHD, and the locality conditions necessary for Gaussianification to occur.

• A lattice pairing-field approach to ultracold Fermi gases

  Florian Ehmann, Joaquín E. Drut, Jens Braun

  SciPost Phys. 16, 091 (2024) · published 3 April 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We develop a pairing-field formalism for ab initio studies of non-relativistic two-component fermions on a (d+1)-dimensional spacetime lattice. More specifically, we focus on theories where the interaction between the two components can be described by the exchange of a corresponding pairing field. The introduction of a pairing field may indeed be convenient for studies of, e.g., the finite-temperature phase structure and critical behavior of, e.g., ultracold atomic Fermi gases. Moreover, such a formalism allows to directly compute the momentum and frequency dependence of the pair propagator, from which the pair-correlation function can be extracted. For a first illustration of the application of our formalism, we compute the density equation of state and the superfluid order parameter for a gas of unpolarized fermions in (0+1) dimensions by employing the complex Langevin approach to surmount the sign problem.

• Electron addition spectral functions of low-density polaron liquids

  Alberto Nocera, Mona Berciu

  SciPost Phys. 15, 110 (2023) · published 22 September 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Spectral functions are important quantities that contain a wealth of information about the quasiparticles of a system, and that can also be measured experimentally. For systems with electron-phonon coupling, good approximations for the spectral function are available only in the Migdal limit (at Fermi energies much larger than the typical phonon frequency, $E_F\gg \Omega$, requiring a large carrier concentration $x$) and in the single polaron limit (at $x=0$). Here we show that the region with $x\ll 1$ ($E_F <\Omega$) can also be reliably investigated with the Momentum Average (MA) variational approximation, which essentially describes the formation of a polaron above an inert Fermi sea. Specifically, we show that for the one-dimensional spinless Holstein model, the MA spectral functions compare favorably with those calculated using variationally exact density matrix renormalization group simulations (DMRG) evaluated directly in frequency-space, so long as $x<0.1$ and the adiabaticity ratio $\Omega/t>0.5$. Unlike in the Migdal limit, here 'polaronic physics' emerges already at moderate couplings. The relevance of these results for a spinful low-$x$ metal is also discussed.

• Radiative asymptotic symmetries of 3D Einstein-Maxwell theory

  Jorrit Bosma, Marc Geiller, Sucheta Majumdar, Blagoje Oblak

  SciPost Phys. 16, 092 (2024) · published 3 April 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the null asymptotic structure of Einstein-Maxwell theory in three-dimensional (3D) spacetimes. Although devoid of bulk gravitational degrees of freedom, the system admits a massless photon and can therefore accommodate electromagnetic radiation. We derive fall-off conditions for the Maxwell field that contain both Coulombic and radiative modes with non-vanishing news. The latter produces non-integrability and fluxes in the asymptotic surface charges, and gives rise to a non-trivial 3D Bondi mass loss formula. The resulting solution space is thus analogous to a dimensional reduction of 4D pure gravity, with the role of gravitational radiation played by its electromagnetic cousin. We use this simplified setup to investigate choices of charge brackets in detail, and compute in particular the recently introduced Koszul bracket. When the latter is applied to Wald-Zoupas charges, which are conserved in the absence of news, it leads to the field-dependent central extension found earlier in [Class. Quantum Gravity 32, 245001 (2015)]. We also consider (Anti-)de Sitter asymptotics to further exhibit the analogy between this model and 4D gravity with leaky boundary conditions.