Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Charge quantization and detector resolution

  Roman-Pascal Riwar

  SciPost Phys. 10, 093 (2021) · published 29 April 2021 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Charge quantization, or the absence thereof, is a central theme in quantum circuit theory, with dramatic consequences for the predicted circuit dynamics. Very recently, the question of whether or not charge should actually be described as quantized has enjoyed renewed widespread interest, with however seemingly contradictory propositions. Here, we intend to reconcile these different approaches, by arguing that ultimately, charge quantization is not an intrinsic system property, but instead depends on the spatial resolution of the charge detector. We show that the latter can be directly probed by unique geometric signatures in the correlations of the supercurrent. We illustrate these findings at the example of Josephson junction arrays in the superinductor regime, where the transported charge appears to be continuous. Finally, we comment on potential consequences of charge quantization beyond superconducting circuits.

  5 citations

• Twisted holography on AdS$_3 \times S^3 \times$ K3 & the planar chiral algebra

  Víctor E. Fernández, Natalie M. Paquette, Brian R. Williams

  SciPost Phys. 17, 109 (2024) · published 9 October 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In this work, we revisit and elaborate on twisted holography for AdS$_3 × S^3 × X$ with $X= T^4$, K3, with a particular focus on K3. We describe the twist of supergravity, identify the corresponding (generalization of) BCOV theory, and enumerate twisted supergravity states. We use this knowledge, and the technique of Koszul duality, to obtain the $N → ∞$, or planar, limit of the chiral algebra of the dual CFT. The resulting symmetries are strong enough to fix planar 2 and 3-point functions in the twisted theory or, equivalently, in a 1/4-BPS subsector of the original duality. This technique can in principle be used to compute corrections to the chiral algebra perturbatively in $1/N$.

  5 citations

• High temperature series expansions of S = 1/2 Heisenberg spin models: Algorithm to include the magnetic field with optimized complexity

  Laurent Pierre, Bernard Bernu, Laura Messio

  SciPost Phys. 17, 105 (2024) · published 7 October 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  This work presents an algorithm for calculating high temperature series expansions (HTSE) of Heisenberg spin models with spin $S=1/2$ in the thermodynamic limit. This algorithm accounts for the presence of a magnetic field. The paper begins with a comprehensive introduction to HTSE and then focuses on identifying the bottlenecks that limit the computation of higher order coefficients. HTSE calculations involve two key steps: graph enumeration on the lattice and trace calculations for each graph. The introduction of a non-zero magnetic field adds complexity to the expansion because previously irrelevant graphs must now be considered: bridged graphs. We present an efficient method to deduce the contribution of these graphs from the contribution of sub-graphs, that drastically reduces the time of calculation for the last order coefficient (in practice increasing by one the order of the series at almost no cost). Previous articles of the authors have utilized HTSE calculations based on this algorithm, but without providing detailed explanations. The complete algorithm is publicly available, as well as the series on many lattice and for various interactions.

  5 citations

• 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)%.

  5 citations

• Quantum transport theory for unconventional magnets: Interplay of altermagnetism and p-wave magnetism with superconductivity

  Tim Kokkeler, Ilya Tokatly, F. Sebastian Bergeret

  SciPost Phys. 18, 178 (2025) · published 5 June 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We present a quantum transport theory for generic magnetic metals, in which magnetism occurs predominantly due to exchange interactions, such as ferromagnets, antiferromagnets, altermagnets and p-wave magnets. Our theory is valid both for the normal and the superconducting state and is based on the generalization of nonlinear sigma model to such systems. We derive the effective low-energy action for each of these materials, where the symmetries of the corresponding spin space group are used to determine the form of the tensor coefficients appearing in the action. The transport equations, which are obtained as the saddle point equations of this action, describe a wider range of phenomena than the usual quasiclassical equations. In ferromagnets, in addition to the usual exchange field and spin relaxation effects, we identify a spin-dependent renormalization of the diffusion coefficient, and a correction to the Hanle effect. The former provides a description of spin-polarized currents in both the normal and superconducting equal spin-triplet states. In the normal state, our equations provide a complete description of the spin-splitting effect in diffusive systems, recently predicted in ideal clean altermagnets. In the superconducting state, our equations predict a proximity induced magnetization, the appearance of a spontaneous magnetic moment in hybrid superconductor-altermagnet systems. The distribution and polarization direction of this magnetic moment depend on the symmetry of the structure, thus measurements of such polarization reveal the underlying microscopic symmetry of the altermagnet. Finally, for inversion-symmetry-broken antiferromagnets, such as the p-wave magnet, we show that spin-galvanic effects may emerge. This effect is indistinguishable from the spin-galvanic effect induced by spin-orbit coupling in the normal state, but they can be distinguished through the temperature dependence in the superconducting state. Besides these examples, our model applies to arbitrary magnetic systems, providing a complete theory for nonequilibrium transport in diffusive nonconventional magnets at arbitrary temperatures.

  5 citations

• Network construction of non-Abelian chiral spin liquids

  Hernan B. Xavier, Claudio Chamon, Rodrigo G. Pereira

  SciPost Phys. 14, 105 (2023) · published 10 May 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We use a network of chiral junctions to construct a family of topological chiral spin liquids in two spatial dimensions. The chiral spin liquid phase harbors SU(2)$_k$ anyons, which stem from the underlying SU(2)$_k$ WZW models that describe the constituent spin chains of the network. The network exhibits quantized spin and thermal Hall conductances. We illustrate our construction by inspecting the topological properties of the SU(2)$_2$ model. We find that this model has emergent Ising anyons, with spinons acting as vortex excitations that bind Majorana zero modes. We also show that the ground state of this network is threefold degenerate on the torus, asserting its non-Abelian character. Our results shed new light on the stability of non-Abelian topological phases in artificial quantum materials.

  5 citations

• New directions in the search for dark matter

  Surjeet Rajendran

  SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 56 (2022) · published 23 May 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The identification of the nature of dark matter is one of the most important problems confronting particle physics. Current observational constraints permit the mass of the dark matter to range from $\sim 10^{-22}$ eV - $10^{48}$ GeV. Given the weak nature of these bounds and the ease with which dark matter models can be constructed, it is clear that the problem can only be solved experimentally. In these lectures, I discuss methods to experimentally probe a wide range of dark matter candidates.

  5 citations

• Topological aspects of brane fields: Solitons and higher-form symmetries

  Salvatore D. Pace, Yu Leon Liu

  SciPost Phys. 16, 128 (2024) · published 21 May 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In this note, we classify topological solitons of $n$-brane fields, which are nonlocal fields that describe $n$-dimensional extended objects. We consider a class of $n$-brane fields that formally define a homomorphism from the $n$-fold loop space $\Omega^n X_D$ of spacetime $X_D$ to a space $\mathcal{E}_n$. Examples of such $n$-brane fields are Wilson operators in $n$-form gauge theories. The solitons are singularities of the $n$-brane field, and we classify them using the homotopy theory of ${\mathbb{E}_n}$-algebras. We find that the classification of codimension ${k+1}$ topological solitons with ${k≥ n}$ can be understood using homotopy groups of $\mathcal{E}_n$. In particular, they are classified by ${\pi_{k-n}(\mathcal{E}_n)}$ when ${n>1}$ and by ${\pi_{k-n}(\mathcal{E}_n)}$ modulo a ${\pi_{1-n}(\mathcal{E}_n)}$ action when ${n=0}$ or ${1}$. However, for ${n>2}$, their classification goes beyond the homotopy groups of $\mathcal{E}_n$ when ${k< n}$, which we explore through examples. We compare this classification to $n$-form $\mathcal{E}_n$ gauge theory. We then apply this classification and consider an ${n}$-form symmetry described by the abelian group ${G^{(n)}}$ that is spontaneously broken to ${H^{(n)}\subset G^{(n)}}$, for which the order parameter characterizing this symmetry breaking pattern is an ${n}$-brane field with target space ${\mathcal{E}_n = G^{(n)}/H^{(n)}}$. We discuss this classification in the context of many examples, both with and without 't Hooft anomalies.

  5 citations

• Decoherent quench dynamics across quantum phase transitions

  Wei-Ting Kuo, Daniel Arovas, Smitha Vishveshwara, and Yi-Zhuang You

  SciPost Phys. 11, 084 (2021) · published 28 October 2021 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We present a formulation for investigating quench dynamics across quantum phase transitions in the presence of decoherence. We formulate decoherent dynamics induced by continuous quantum non-demolition measurements of the instantaneous Hamiltonian. We generalize the well-studied universal Kibble-Zurek behavior for linear temporal drive across the critical point. We identify a strong decoherence regime wherein the decoherence time is shorter than the standard correlation time, which varies as the inverse gap above the groundstate. In this regime, we find that the freeze-out time $\bar{t}\sim\tau^{{2\nu z}/({1+2\nu z})}$ for when the system falls out of equilibrium and the associated freeze-out length $\bar{\xi}\sim\tau^{\nu/({1+2\nu z})}$ show power-law scaling with respect to the quench rate $1/\tau$, where the exponents depend on the correlation length exponent $\nu$ and the dynamical exponent $z$ associated with the transition. The universal exponents differ from those of standard Kibble-Zurek scaling. We explicitly demonstrate this scaling behavior in the instance of a topological transition in a Chern insulator system. We show that the freeze-out time scale can be probed from the relaxation of the Hall conductivity. Furthermore, on introducing disorder to break translational invariance, we demonstrate how quenching results in regions of imbalanced excitation density characterized by an emergent length scale which also shows universal scaling. We perform numerical simulations to confirm our analytical predictions and corroborate the scaling arguments that we postulate as universal to a host of systems.

  5 citations

• Dirac fermions and topological phases in magnetic topological insulator films

  Kai-Zhi Bai, Bo Fu, Shun-Qing Shen

  SciPost Phys. 17, 146 (2024) · published 27 November 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We develop a Dirac fermion theory for topological phases in magnetic topological insulator films. The theory is based on exact solutions of the energies and the wave functions for an effective model of the three-dimensional topological insulator (TI) film. It is found that the TI film consists of a pair of massless or massive Dirac fermions for the surface states, and a series of massive Dirac fermions for the bulk states. The massive Dirac fermion always carries zero or integer quantum Hall conductance when the valence band is fully occupied while the massless Dirac fermion carries a one-half quantum Hall conductance when the chemical potential is located around the Dirac point for a finite range. The magnetic exchange interaction in the magnetic layers in the film can be used to manipulate either the masses or chirality of the Dirac fermions and gives rise to distinct topological phases, which cover the known topological insulating phases, such as the quantum anomalous Hall effect, quantum spin Hall effect and axion effect, and also the novel topological metallic phases, such as the half-quantized Hall effect, half quantum mirror Hall effect, and metallic quantum anomalous Hall effect.

  5 citations