Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Black hole mergers in holographic space time models of cosmology

  Anish Suresh, Tom Banks

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 057 (2024) · published 22 August 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Holographic space-time, a theory of quantum gravity that generalizes string theory and quantum field theory, predicts black holes in the early matter-dominated era of its models of inflation. Before these black holes can decay, there is a chance that enough of these particles merge to produce radiation visible today in the Cosmic Microwave background. To discover if this is the case, we perform a rudimentary computer simulation. We show that no problematic black holes are formed by mergers in the Holographic Space-time models of inflation. However, we conclude that tiny bound structures containing black holes remnants form in this theory unconditionally. Since black hole decay products are mostly massive standard model particles, and perhaps their superpartners, the fate of these structures is a complicated dynamical problem that requires further study. It suggests the possibility of primordial structures on the order of the horizon size at the beginning of the radiation dominated era. This is about $10^9 L_P$ in the current model.

• THz higher-order topological photonics in Ge-on-Si heterostructures

  Ian Colombo, Pietro Minazzi, Emiliano Bonera, Fabio Pezzoli, Jacopo Pedrini

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 039 (2024) · published 4 July 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We design germanium-based higher-order topological cavities for terahertz applications by breaking the symmetry of a two-dimensional photonic crystal following the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Calculations demonstrate the parity inversion of the electric field in differently deformed unit cells. The interface between domains of opposite topology presents edge and corner modes. The former are chiral, locking light propagation to its helicity. The latter prove that Ge-based structures can be used as high-order topological photonic crystals. These findings can accelerate the development of Si-photonic components working in a spectral range of high technological interest.

• Catalogue of phonon modes in several cuprate high-temperature superconductors from density functional theory

  Noah J. Jabusch, Pavan Dayal, Alexander F. Kemper

  SciPost Phys. Core 6, 018 (2023) · published 23 March 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Cuprates are promising candidates for study in developing higher temperature superconductors. A thorough understanding of a material's phonon modes enables further investigation of its emergent properties, however, no complete reference of the phonon modes exists. Here, using density functional theory, we evaluate the phonon frequencies and atomic displacements for $\text{La}_2\text{CuO}_4$, $\text{Bi}_2\text{Sr}_2\text{CuO}_6$, and $\text{Bi}_2\text{Sr}_2\text{CaCu}_2\text{O}_8$, in their tetragonal structures. The phonon modes for all materials agree with those expected from space group symmetry and display instabilities corresponding to known low-temperature structural phase transitions.

• Thermalization of long range Ising model in different dynamical regimes: A full counting statistics approach

  Nishan Ranabhat, Mario Collura

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 017 (2024) · published 5 April 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the thermalization of the transverse field Ising chain with a power law decaying interaction $\sim 1/r^{\alpha}$ following a global quantum quench of the transverse field in two different dynamical regimes. The thermalization behavior is quantified by comparing the full probability distribution function (PDF) of the evolving states with the corresponding thermal state given by the canonical Gibbs ensemble (CGE). To this end, we used the matrix product state (MPS)-based Time Dependent Variational Principle (TDVP) algorithm to simulate both real time evolution following a global quantum quench and the finite temperature density operator. We observe that thermalization is strongly suppressed in the region with strong confinement for all interaction strengths $\alpha$, whereas thermalization occurs in the region with weak confinement.

• Flux-tunable Kitaev chain in a quantum dot array

  Juan Daniel Torres Luna, A. Mert Bozkurt, Michael Wimmer, Chun-Xiao Liu

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 065 (2024) · published 18 September 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Connecting quantum dots through Andreev bound states in a semiconductor-superconductor hybrid provides a platform to create a Kitaev chain. Interestingly, in a double quantum dot, a pair of poor man's Majorana zero modes can emerge when the system is fine-tuned to a sweet spot, where superconducting and normal couplings are equal in magnitude. Control of the Andreev bound states is crucial for achieving this, usually implemented by varying its chemical potential. In this work, we propose using Andreev bound states in a short Josephson junction to mediate both types of couplings, with the ratio tunable by the phase difference across the junction. Now a minimal Kitaev chain can be easily tuned into the strong coupling regime by varying the phase and junction asymmetry, even without changing the dot-hybrid coupling strength. Furthermore, we identify an optimal sweet spot at $\pi$ phase, enhancing the excitation gap and robustness against phase fluctuations. Our proposal introduces a new device platform and a new tuning method for realizing quantum-dot-based Kitaev chains.

• Rapid measurements and phase transition detections made simple by AC-GANs

  Jiewei Ding, Ho-Kin Tang, Wing Chi Yu

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 035 (2024) · published 11 June 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In recent years, significant attention has been paid to using end-to-end neural networks for analyzing Monte Carlo data. However, the exploration of non-end-to-end generative adversarial neural networks remains limited. Here, we investigate classical many-body systems using generative adversarial neural networks. We employ the conditional generative adversarial network with an auxiliary classifier (AC-GAN) and integrate self-attention layers into the generator. This modification enables the network learn the distribution of the two-dimensional (2D) XY model's spin configurations and the physical quantities of interest. Utilizing the symmetry of the systems, we discover that AC-GAN can be trained with a very small raw dataset. This approach allows us to obtain reliable measurements for models typically demanding large samples, such as the large-sized 2D XY and the 3D constrained Heisenberg models. Moreover, we demonstrate the capability of AC-GAN to identify the phase transition points by quantifying the distribution changes in the spin configurations of the systems.

• A linear algebra-based approach to understanding the relation between the winding number and zero-energy edge states

  Chen-Shen Lee

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 003 (2024) · published 30 January 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The one-to-one relation between the winding number and the number of robust zero-energy edge states, known as bulk-boundary correspondence, is a celebrated feature of 1$d$ systems with chiral symmetry. Although this property can be explained by the K-theory, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that, even without resorting to advanced mathematical techniques, one can prove this correspondence and clearly illustrate the mechanism using only Cauchy's integral and elementary algebra. Furthermore, our approach to proving bulk-boundary correspondence also provides clear insights into a kind of system that doesn't respect chiral symmetry but can have robust left or right zero-energy edge states. In such systems, one can still assign the winding number to characterize these zero-energy edge states.

• General simulation method for spontaneous parametric down- and parametric up-conversion experiments

  Felix Riexinger, Mirco Kutas, Björn Haase, Patricia Bickert, Daniel Molter, Michael Bortz, Georg von Freymann

  SciPost Phys. Core 6, 022 (2023) · published 29 March 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) sources are an important technology for quantum sensing and imaging. We demonstrate a general simulation method, based on modeling from first principles, reproducing the spectrally and spatially resolved absolute counts of a SPDC experiment. By additionally simulating parametric up- and down-conversion processes with thermal photons as well as effects of the optical system we accomplish good agreement with the experimental results. This method is broadly applicable and allows for the separation of contributing processes, virtual characterization of SPDC sources, and enables the simulation of many quantum based applications.

• Entanglement Hamiltonian and effective temperature of non-Hermitian quantum spin ladders

  Pei-Yun Yang, Yu-Chin Tzeng

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 074 (2024) · published 20 November 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Quantum entanglement plays a crucial role not only in understanding Hermitian many-body systems but also in offering valuable insights into non-Hermitian quantum systems. In this paper, we analytically investigate the entanglement Hamiltonian and entanglement energy spectrum of a non-Hermitian spin ladder using perturbation theory in the biorthogonal basis. Specifically, we examine the entanglement properties between coupled non-Hermitian quantum spin chains. In the strong coupling limit ($J_\mathrm{rung}\gg1$), first-order perturbation theory reveals that the entanglement Hamiltonian closely resembles the single-chain Hamiltonian with renormalized coupling strengths, allowing for the definition of an ad hoc temperature. Our findings provide new insights into quantum entanglement in non-Hermitian systems and offer a foundation for developing novel approaches for studying finite temperature properties in non-Hermitian quantum many-body systems.

• The propagator matrix reloaded

  João F. Melo

  SciPost Phys. Core 6, 019 (2023) · published 24 March 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The standard way to perform calculations for quantum field theories involves the S-matrix and the assumption that the theory is free at past and future infinity. However, this assumption may not hold for field theories in non-trivial backgrounds such as curved spacetimes or finite temperature. In fact, even in the simple case of finite temperature Minkowski spacetime, there are a lot of misconceptions and confusion in the literature surrounding how to correctly take interactions into account when setting up the initial conditions. The objective of this work is to clear up these misconceptions and provide a clean and simple derivation of a formalism which includes interactions in the initial conditions and assesses whether or not it is legitimate to ignore them. The ultimate conclusion is that we cannot ignore them: quantum field theories at finite temperature are not free in the infinite past.