Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• On the Witten index of 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ unitary SQCD with general CS levels

  Cyril Closset, Osama Khlaif

  SciPost Phys. 15, 085 (2023) · published 8 September 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We consider unitary SQCD, a three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric Chern-Simons-matter theory consisting of one $U(N_c)_{k, k+l N_c}$ vector multiplet coupled to $n_f$ fundamental and $n_a$ antifundamental chiral multiplets, where $k$ and $l$ parameterise generic CS levels for $U(N_c)=(SU(N_c)\times U(1))/\mathbb{Z}_{N_c}$. We study the moduli space of vacua of this theory with $n_a=0$, for generic values of the parameters $N_c, k, l, n_f$ and with a non-zero Fayet-Ilopoulos parameter turned on. We uncover a rich pattern of vacua including Higgs, topological and hybrid phases. This allows us to derive a closed-form formula for the flavoured Witten index of unitary SQCD for any $n_f\neq n_a$, generalising previously known results for either $l=0$ or $n_f=n_a$. Finally, we analyse the vacuum structure of recently proposed infrared-dual gauge theories and we match vacua across the dualities, thus providing intricate new checks of those dualities. Incidentally, we also discuss a seemingly new level/rank duality for pure CS theories with $U(N)\times U(N')$ gauge group.

  4 citations

• Classifying the CP properties of the ggH coupling in H + 2j production

  Henning Bahl, Elina Fuchs, Marc Hannig, Marco Menen

  SciPost Phys. Core 8, 006 (2025) · published 20 January 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  The Higgs-gluon interaction is crucial for LHC phenomenology. To improve the constraints on the $\mathcal{CP}$ structure of this coupling, we investigate Higgs production with two jets using machine learning. In particular, we exploit the $\mathcal{CP}$ sensitivity of the so far neglected phase space region that differs from the typical vector boson fusion-like kinematics. Our results indicate that further improvements in the current experimental limits could be achievable using our techniques. We also discuss the most relevant observables and how $\mathcal{CP}$ violation in the Higgs–gluon interaction can be disentangled from $\mathcal{CP}$ violation in the interaction between the Higgs boson and massive vector bosons. Assuming the absence of $\mathcal{CP}$-violating Higgs interactions with coloured beyond-the-Standard-Model states, our projected limits on a $\mathcal{CP}$-violating top-Yukawa coupling are competitive with more direct probes like top-associated Higgs production and limits from a global fit.

  4 citations

• Density matrices in integrable face models

  Holger Frahm, Daniel Westerfeld

  SciPost Phys. 11, 057 (2021) · published 14 September 2021 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Using the properties of the local Boltzmann weights of integrable interaction-round-a-face (IRF or face) models we express local operators in terms of generalized transfer matrices. This allows for the derivation of discrete functional equations for the reduced density matrices in inhomogeneous generalizations of these models. We apply these equations to study the density matrices for IRF models of various solid-on-solid type and quantum chains of non-Abelian ${SU(2)_3}$ or Fibonacci anyons. Similar as in the six vertex model we find that reduced density matrices for a sequence of consecutive sites can be 'factorized', i.e.\ expressed in terms of nearest-neighbour correlators with coefficients which are independent of the model parameters. Explicit expressions are provided for correlation functions on up to three neighbouring sites.

  4 citations

• Topological dipole insulator

  Ho Tat Lam, Jung Hoon Han, Yizhi You

  SciPost Phys. 17, 137 (2024) · published 18 November 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We expand the concept of two-dimensional topological insulators to encompass a novel category known as topological dipole insulators (TDIs), characterized by conserved dipole moments along the $x$-direction in addition to charge conservation. By generalizing Laughlin's flux insertion argument, we prove a no-go theorem and predict possible edge patterns and anomalies in a TDI with both charge $U^e(1)$ and dipole $U^d(1)$ symmetries. The edge of a TDI is characterized as a quadrupolar channel that displays a dipole $U^d(1)$ anomaly. A quantized amount of dipole gets transferred between the edges under the dipolar flux insertion, manifesting as 'quantized quadrupolar Hall effect' in TDIs. A microscopic coupled-wire Hamiltonian realizing the TDI is constructed by introducing a mutually commuting pair-hopping terms between wires to gap out all the bulk modes while preserving the dipole moment. The effective action at the quadrupolar edge can be derived from the wire model, with the corresponding bulk dipolar Chern-Simons response theory delineating the topological electromagnetic response in TDIs. Finally, we enrich our exploration of topological dipole insulators to the spinful case and construct a dipolar version of the quantum spin Hall effect, whose boundary evidences a mixed anomaly between spin and dipole symmetry. Effective bulk and the edge action for the dipolar quantum spin Hall insulator are constructed as well.

  4 citations

• Exceptional points and pseudo-Hermiticity in real potential scattering

  Farhang Loran, Ali Mostafazadeh

  SciPost Phys. 12, 109 (2022) · published 28 March 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We employ a recently-developed transfer-matrix formulation of scattering theory in two dimensions to study a class of scattering setups modeled by real potentials. The transfer matrix for these potentials is related to the time-evolution operator for an associated pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian operator $\widehat{\boldsymbol{H}}$ which develops an exceptional point for a discrete set of incident wavenumbers. We use the spectral properties of this operator to determine the transfer matrix of these potentials and solve their scattering problem. We apply our general results to explore the scattering of waves by a waveguide of finite length in two dimensions, where the source of the incident wave and the detectors measuring the scattered wave are positioned at spatial infinities while the interior of the waveguide, which is filled with an inactive material, forms a finite rectangular region of the space. The study of this model allows us to elucidate the physical meaning and implications of the presence of the real and complex eigenvalues of $\widehat{\boldsymbol{H}}$ and its exceptional points. Our results reveal the relevance of the concepts of pseudo-Hermitian operator and exceptional point in the standard quantum mechanics of closed systems where the potentials are required to be real.

  4 citations

• Relativistic Landau quantization in non-uniform magnetic field and its applications to white dwarfs and quantum information

  Srishty Aggarwal, Banibrata Mukhopadhyay, Gianluca Gregori

  SciPost Phys. 11, 093 (2021) · published 18 November 2021 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We investigate the two-dimensional motion of relativistic cold electrons in the presence of ‘strictly’ spatially varying magnetic fields satisfying, however, no magnetic monopole condition. We find that the degeneracy of Landau levels, which arises in the case of the constant magnetic field, lifts out when the field is variable and the energy levels of spin-up and spin-down electrons align in an interesting way depending on the nature of change of field. Also the varying magnetic field splits Landau levels of electrons with zero angular momentum from positive angular momentum, unlike the constant field which only can split the levels between positive and negative angular momenta. Exploring Landau quantization in non-uniform magnetic fields is a unique venture on its own and has interdisciplinary implications in the fields ranging from condensed matter to astrophysics to quantum information. As examples, we show magnetized white dwarfs, with varying magnetic fields, involved simultaneously with Lorentz force and Landau quantization affecting the underlying degenerate electron gas, exhibiting a significant violation of the Chandrasekhar mass-limit; and an increase in quantum speed of electrons in the presence of a spatially growing magnetic field.

  4 citations

• (1,0) gauge theories on the six-sphere

  Usman Naseer

  SciPost Phys. 6, 002 (2019) · published 8 January 2019 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We construct gauge theories with a vector-multiplet and hypermultiplets of $(1,0)$ supersymmetry on the six-sphere. The gauge coupling on the sphere depends on the polar angle. This has a natural explanation in terms of the tensor branch of $(1,0)$ theories on the six-sphere. For the vector-multiplet we give an off-shell formulation for all supersymmetries. For hypermultiplets we give an off-shell formulation for one supersymmetry. We show that the path integral for the vector-multiplet localizes to solutions of the Hermitian-Yang-Mills equation, which is a generalization of the (anti-)self duality condition to higher dimensions. For the hypermultiplet, the path integral localizes to configurations where the field strengths of two complex scalars are related by an almost complex structure.

  4 citations

• A semi-numerical method for one-scale problems applied to the $\overline{\rm MS}$-on-shell relation

  Matteo Fael, Fabian Lange, Kay Schönwald, Matthias Steinhauser

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 7, 041 (2022) · published 22 June 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We discuss a practical approach to compute master integrals entering physical quantities which depend on one parameter. As an example we consider four-loop QCD corrections to the relation between a heavy quark mass defined in the $\overline{\rm MS}$ and on-shell scheme in the presence of a second heavy quark.

  4 citations

• Universal Entanglement Dynamics following a Local Quench

  Romain Vasseur, Hubert Saleur

  SciPost Phys. 3, 001 (2017) · published 6 July 2017 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the time dependence of the entanglement between two quantum wires after suddenly connecting them via tunneling through an impurity. The result at large times is given by the well known formula $S(t) \approx {1\over 3}\ln {t}$. We show that the intermediate time regime can be described by a universal cross-over formula $S=F(tT_K)$, where $T_K$ is the crossover (Kondo) temperature: the function $F$ describes the dynamical "healing" of the system at large times. We discuss how to obtain analytic information about $F$ in the case of an integrable quantum impurity problem using the massless Form-Factors formalism for twist and boundary condition changing operators. Our results are confirmed by density matrix renormalization group calculations and exact free fermion numerics.

  4 citations

• Tails of Instability and Decay: a Hydrodynamic Perspective

  Olalla A. Castro-Alvaredo, Cecilia De Fazio, Benjamin Doyon, Aleksandra A. Ziółkowska

  SciPost Phys. 12, 115 (2022) · published 31 March 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  In the context of quantum field theory (QFT), unstable particles are associated with complex-valued poles of two-body scattering matrices in the unphysical sheet of rapidity space. The Breit-Wigner formula relates this pole to the mass and life-time of the particle, observed in scattering events. In this paper, we uncover new, dynamical signatures of unstable excitations and show that they have a strong effect on the non-equilibrium properties of QFT. Focusing on a 1+1D integrable model, and using the theory of Generalized Hydrodynamics, we study the formation and decay of unstable particles by analysing the release of hot matter into a low-temperature environment. We observe the formation of tails and the decay of the emitted nonlinear waves, in sharp contrast to the situation without unstable excitations. We also uncover a new phenomenon by which a wave of a stable population of unstable particles may persist without decay for long times. We expect these signatures of the presence of unstable particles to have a large degree of universality. Our study shows that the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of many-body systems can be strongly affected not only by the spectrum, but also by excitations with finite life-times.

  4 citations