Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Quantum wavefront shaping with a 48-element programmable phase plate for electrons

  Chu-Ping Yu, Francisco Vega Ibañez, Armand Béché, Johan Verbeeck

  SciPost Phys. 15, 223 (2023) · published 4 December 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We present a 48-element programmable phase plate for coherent electron waves produced by a combination of photolithography and focused ion beam. This brings the highly successful concept of wavefront shaping from light optics into the realm of electron optics and provides an important new degree of freedom to prepare electron quantum states. The phase plate chip is mounted on an aperture rod placed in the C2 plane of a transmission electron microscope operating in the 100-300 kV range. The phase plate's behavior is characterized by a Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, showing a phase sensitivity of 0.075 rad/mV at 300 kV, with a phase resolution of approximately 3$\cdot$10$^{-3} \pi$. In addition, we provide a brief overview of possible use cases and support it with both simulated and experimental results.

  7 citations

• Gauging tensor networks with belief propagation

  Joseph Tindall, Matt Fishman

  SciPost Phys. 15, 222 (2023) · published 1 December 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Effectively compressing and optimizing tensor networks requires reliable methods for fixing the latent degrees of freedom of the tensors, known as the gauge. Here we introduce a new algorithm for gauging tensor networks using belief propagation, a method that was originally formulated for performing statistical inference on graphical models and has recently found applications in tensor network algorithms. We show that this method is closely related to known tensor network gauging methods. It has the practical advantage, however, that existing belief propagation implementations can be repurposed for tensor network gauging, and that belief propagation is a very simple algorithm based on just tensor contractions so it can be easier to implement, optimize, and generalize. We present numerical evidence and scaling arguments that this algorithm is faster than existing gauging algorithms, demonstrating its usage on structured, unstructured, and infinite tensor networks. Additionally, we apply this method to improve the accuracy of the widely used simple update gate evolution algorithm.

  7 citations

• Quantum chaos in a harmonic waveguide with scatterers

  Vladimir Alexander Yurovsky

  SciPost Phys. 15, 221 (2023) · published 1 December 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  A set of zero-range scatterers along its axis lifts the integrability of a harmonic waveguide. Effective solution of the Schrödinger equation for this model is possible due to the separable nature of the scatterers and millions of eigenstates can be calculated using modest computational resources. Integrability-chaos transition can be explored as the model chaoticity increases with the number of scatterers and their strengths. The regime of complete quantum chaos and eigenstate thermalization can be approached with 32 scatterers. This is confirmed by properties of energy spectra, the inverse participation ratio, and fluctuations of observable expectation values.

• An association sequence suitable for producing ground-state RbCs molecules in optical lattices

  Arpita Das, Philip D. Gregory, Tetsu Takekoshi, Luke Fernley, Manuele Landini, Jeremy M. Hutson, Simon L. Cornish, Hanns-Christoph Nägerl

  SciPost Phys. 15, 220 (2023) · published 1 December 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We identify a route for the production of $^{87}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules in the $X^1\Sigma^+$ rovibronic ground state that is compatible with efficient mixing of the atoms in optical lattices. We first construct a model for the excited-state structure using constants found by fitting to spectroscopy of the relevant $a\,^3 \Sigma^+ → b\, ^3\Pi_1$ transitions at 181.5 G and 217.1 G. We then compare the predicted transition dipole moments from this model to those found for the transitions that have been successfully used for STIRAP at 181.5 G. We form molecules by magnetoassociation on a broad interspecies Feshbach resonance at 352.7 G and explore the pattern of Feshbach states near 305 G. This allows us to navigate to a suitable initial state for STIRAP by jumping across an avoided crossing with radiofrequency radiation. We identify suitable transitions for STIRAP at 305 G. We characterize these transitions experimentally and demonstrate STIRAP to a single hyperfine level of the ground state with a one-way efficiency of 85(4)%.

  4 citations

• Dynamical mean field theory for models of confluent tissues and beyond

  Persia Jana Kamali, Pierfrancesco Urbani

  SciPost Phys. 15, 219 (2023) · published 30 November 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We consider a recently proposed model to understand the rigidity transition in confluent tissues and we derive the dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) equations that describes several types of dynamics of the model in the thermodynamic limit: gradient descent, thermal Langevin noise and active drive. In particular we focus on gradient descent dynamics and we integrate numerically the corresponding DMFT equations. In this case we show that gradient descent is blind to the zero temperature replica symmetry breaking (RSB) transition point. This means that, even if the Gibbs measure in the zero temperature limit displays RSB, this algorithm is able to find its way to a zero energy configuration. We include a discussion on possible extensions of the DMFT derivation to study problems rooted in high-dimensional regression and optimization via the square loss function.

• Aperiodic spin chains at the boundary of hyperbolic tilings

  Pablo Basteiro, Rathindra Nath Das, Giuseppe Di Giulio, Johanna Erdmenger

  SciPost Phys. 15, 218 (2023) · published 30 November 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In view of making progress towards establishing a holographic duality for theories defined on a discrete tiling of the hyperbolic plane, we consider a recently proposed boundary spin chain Hamiltonian with aperiodic couplings that are chosen such as to reflect the inflation rule, i.e. the construction principle, of the bulk tiling. As a remnant of conformal symmetry, the spin degrees of freedom are arranged in multiplets of the dihedral group under which the bulk lattice is invariant. For the boundary Hamiltonian, we use strong-disorder RG techniques and evaluate correlation functions, the entanglement entropy and mutual information for the case that the ground state is in an aperiodic singlet phase. We find that two-point functions decay as a power-law with exponent equal to one. Furthermore, we consider the case that the spin variables transform in the fundamental representation of SO(N), leading to a gapless system, and find that the effective central charge obtained from the entanglement entropy scales as lnN, reflecting the number of local degrees of freedom. We also determine the dependence of this central charge on the parameters specifying the bulk tiling. Moreover, we obtain an analytical expression for the mutual information, according to which there is no phase transition at any finite value of the distance between the two intervals involved.

  7 citations

• Unveiling the anatomy of mode-coupling theory

  Ilian Pihlajamaa, Vincent E. Debets, Corentin C. L. Laudicina, Liesbeth M. C. Janssen

  SciPost Phys. 15, 217 (2023) · published 29 November 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The mode-coupling theory of the glass transition (MCT) has been at the forefront of fundamental glass research for decades, yet the theory's underlying approximations remain obscure. Here we quantify and critically assess the effect of each MCT approximation separately. Using Brownian dynamics simulations, we compute the memory kernel predicted by MCT after each approximation in its derivation, and compare it with the exact one. We find that some often-criticized approximations are in fact very accurate, while the opposite is true for others, providing new guiding cues for further theory development.

  2 citations

• Topological defect lines in two dimensional fermionic CFTs

  Chi-Ming Chang, Jin Chen, Fengjun Xu

  SciPost Phys. 15, 216 (2023) · published 29 November 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We consider topological defect lines (TDLs) in two-dimensional fermionic conformal field theories (CFTs). Besides inheriting all the properties of TDLs in bosonic CFTs, TDLs in fermionic CFTs could host fermionic defect operators at their endpoints and junctions. Furthermore, there is a new type of TDLs, called q-type TDLs, that have no analog in bosonic CFTs. Their distinguishing feature is an extra one-dimensional Majorana fermion living on the worldline of the TDLs. The properties of TDLs in fermionic CFTs are captured in the mathematical language of the super fusion category. We propose a classification of the rank-2 super fusion categories generalizing the $\mathbb{Z}_8$ classification for the anomalies of $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetries. We explicitly solve the F-moves for all the nontrivial categories, and derive the corresponding spin selection rules that constrain the spectrum of the defect operators. We find the full set of TDLs in the standard fermionic minimal models and a partial set of TDLs in the two exceptional models, which give CFT realizations to the rank-2 super fusion categories. Finally, we discuss a constraint on the renormalization group flow that preserves a q-type TDL.

  9 citations

• Deconfined criticalities and dualities between chiral spin liquid, topological superconductor and charge density wave Chern insulator

  Xue-Yang Song, Ya-Hui Zhang

  SciPost Phys. 15, 215 (2023) · published 29 November 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We propose bi-critical and tri-critical theories between chiral spin liquid (CSL), topological superconductor (SC) and charge density wave (CDW) ordered Chern insulator with Chern number $C=2$ on square, triangular and Kagome lattices. The three CDW order parameters form a manifold of $S^2$ or $S^1$ depending on whether there is easy-plane anisotropy. The skyrmion defect of the CDW order carries physical charge $2e$ and its condensation leads to a topological superconductor. The CDW-SC transitions are in the same universality classes as the celebrated deconfined quantum critical points (DQCP) between Neel order and valence bond solid order on square lattice. Both SC and CDW order can be accessed from the CSL phase through a continuous phase transition. At the CSL-SC transition, there is still CDW order fluctuations although CDW is absent in both sides. We propose three different theories for the CSL-SC transition (and CSL to easy-plane CDW transition): a $U(1)$ theory with two bosons, a $U(1)$ theory with two Dirac fermions, and an $SU(2)$ theory with two bosons. Our construction offers a derivation of the duality between these three theories as well as a promising physical realization. The $SU(2)$ theory offers a unified framework for a series of fixed points with explicit $SO(5), O(4)$ or $SO(3)× O(2)$ symmetry. There is also a transparent duality transformation mapping SC order to easy-plane CDW order. The CSL-SC-CDW tri-critical points are invariant under this duality mapping and have an enlarged $SO(5)$ or $O(4)$ symmetry. The DQCPs between CDW and SC inherit the enlarged symmetry, emergent anomaly, and self-duality from the tri-critical point. Our analysis unifies the well-studied DQCP between symmetry breaking phases into a larger framework where they are proximate to a topologically ordered phase. Experimentally the theory demonstrates the possibility of a rich phase diagram and criticality through closing the Mott gap of a quantum spin liquid with projective symmetry group.

  4 citations

• Ground state topology of a four-terminal superconducting double quantum dot

  Lev Teshler, Hannes Weisbrich, Jonathan Sturm, Raffael L. Klees, Gianluca Rastelli, Wolfgang Belzig

  SciPost Phys. 15, 214 (2023) · published 29 November 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In recent years, various classes of systems were proposed to realize topological states of matter. One of them are multiterminal Josephson junctions where topological Andreev bound states are constructed in the synthetic space of superconducting phases. Crucially, the topology in these systems results in a quantized transconductance between two of its terminals comparable to the quantum Hall effect. In this work, we study a double quantum dot with four superconducting terminals and show that it has an experimentally accessible topological regime in which the non-trivial topology can be measured. We also include Coulomb repulsion between electrons which is usually present in experiments and show how the topological region can be maximized in parameter space.

  4 citations