Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Excitation transfer in disordered spin chains with long-range exchange interactions

  Nikolaos E. Palaiodimopoulos, Maximilian Kiefer-Emmanouilidis, Gershon Kurizki, David Petrosyan

  SciPost Phys. Core 6, 017 (2023) · published 22 March 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We examine spin excitation or polarization transfer via spin chains with long-range exchange interactions in the presence of diagonal and off-diagonal disorder. To this end, we determine the mean localization length of the single-excitation eigenstates of the chain for various strengths of the disorder. We then identify the energy eigenstates of the system with large localization length and sufficient support at the chain boundaries that are suitable to transfer an excitation between the sender and receiver spins connected to the opposite ends of the chain. We quantify the performance of two transfer schemes involving weak static couplings of the sender and receiver spins to the chain, and time-dependent couplings realizing stimulated adiabatic passage of the excitation via the intermediate eigenstates of the chain which exhibits improved performance.

  2 citations

• Noninvertible symmetry and topological holography for modulated SPT in one dimension

  Jintae Kim, Yizhi You, Jung Hoon Han

  SciPost Phys. 19, 110 (2025) · published 24 October 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We examine noninvertible symmetry (NIS) in one-dimensional (1D) symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases protected by dipolar and exponential-charge symmetries, which are two key examples of modulated SPT (MSPT). To set the stage, we first study NIS in the $\mathbb{Z}_N × \mathbb{Z}_N$ cluster model, extending previous work on the $\mathbb{Z}_2 × \mathbb{Z}_2$ case. For each symmetry type (charge, dipole, exponential), we explicitly construct the noninvertible Kramers-Wannier (KW) and Kennedy-Tasaki (KT) transformations, revealing dual models with spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB). The resulting symmetry group structure of the SSB model is rich enough that it allows the identification of other SSB models with the same symmetry. Using these alternative SSB models and KT duality, we generate novel MSPT phases distinct from those associated with the standard decorated domain wall picture, and confirm their distinctiveness by projective symmetry analyses at their interfaces. Additionally, we establish a topological-holographic correspondence by identifying the 2D bulk theories-two coupled layers of toric codes (charge), anisotropic dipolar toric codes (dipole), and exponentially modulated toric codes (exponential)-whose boundaries host the respective 1D MSPT phases.

  2 citations

• Prospects of future MeV telescopes in probingweak-scale dark matter

  Marco Cirelli, Arpan Kar

  SciPost Phys. 19, 080 (2025) · published 29 September 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Galactic weak-scale Dark Matter (DM) particles annihilating into lepton-rich channels not only produce gamma-rays via prompt radiation but also generate abundant energetic electrons and positrons, which subsequently emit through bremsstrahlung or inverse Compton scattering (collectively called "secondary-radiation photons"). While the prompt gamma-rays concentrate at high-energy, the secondary emission falls in the MeV range, which a number of upcoming experiments (AMEGO, E-ASTROGAM, MAST...) will probe. We investigate the sensitivity of these future telescopes for weak-scale DM, focusing for definiteness on observations of the galactic center. We find that they have the potential of probing a wide region of the DM parameter space which is currently unconstrained. Namely, in rather optimistic configurations, future MeV telescopes could probe thermally-produced DM with a mass up to the TeV range, or GeV DM with an annihilation cross section 2 to 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the current bounds, precisely thanks to the significant leverage provided by their sensitivity to secondary emissions. We comment on astrophysical and methodological uncertainties, and compare with the reach of high-energy gamma ray experiments.

  2 citations

• Lyapunov exponents and entanglement entropy transition on the noncommutative hyperbolic plane

  Sriram Ganeshan, Alexios P. Polychronakos

  SciPost Phys. Core 3, 003 (2020) · published 20 August 2020 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study quantum dynamics on noncommutative spaces of negative curvature, focusing on the hyperbolic plane with spatial noncommutativity in the presence of a constant magnetic field. We show that the synergy of noncommutativity and the magnetic field tames the exponential divergence of operator growth caused by the negative curvature of the hyperbolic space. Their combined effect results in a first-order transition at a critical value of the magnetic field in which strong quantum effects subdue the exponential divergence for {\it all} energies, in stark contrast to the commutative case, where for high enough energies operator growth always diverge exponentially. This transition manifests in the entanglement entropy between the `left' and `right' Hilbert spaces of spatial degrees of freedom. In particular, the entanglement entropy in the lowest Landau level vanishes beyond the critical point. We further present a non-linear solvable bosonic model that realizes the underlying algebraic structure of the noncommutative hyperbolic plane with a magnetic field.

  2 citations

• Smuggling critique into impact: Research design principles for critical and actionable migration research

  Maybritt Jill Alpes

  Mig. Pol. 4, 004 (2025) · published 12 June 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  This article introduces critical and actionable migration research as an approach for scholars seeking to mobilize their epistemic resources to resist migration laws and policies that violate human rights principles in the short and medium term. While academia is increasingly shaped by a neoliberal “impact agenda,” violence at physical and administrative borders, as well human rights violations continue to intensify - raising questions about the potential role of academic knowledge in resisting these dynamics. Using ideal types as simplified analytical constructs, the article suggests that the limited transformative potential of academic knowledge stems from a persistant dichotomy: applied research is often not critical and critical research is often not actionable. Overcoming this dichotomy, critical and actionable migration research advances structural transformations and reframes while simultaneously remaining actionable for state actors in the short and medium term. As such, critical and actionable migration research is not applied research, nor devoid of theoretical considerations. Using the metaphor of smuggling, this article asks how migration researchers can reclaim the meaning of “impact” so that it contains the grains of critique that resist border violence and human rights violations in the short and medium term. The article’s answer is based on autobiographical explorations of what it means for an anthropologist to produce knowledge on migration from within law faculties and as policy officer and research consultant for human and refugee rights organizations. Based on this material, the article argues that “impact” is nothing to be “done” once the research is completed. To engage in critical and actionable migration research, scholars should instead theorize transformative knowledge encounters between academics and practitioners as integral parts of the research design. After a discussion of the autobiographical data and a conceptual discussion of transformative knowledge encounters, the article highlights three specific research design principles for critical and actionable migration research: (1) building innovative knowledge alliances, (2) theorizing knowledge needs, and (3) brokering the validity of truth claims.

  2 citations

• Carlo.jl: A general framework for Monte Carlo simulations in Julia

  Lukas Weber

  SciPost Phys. Codebases 49 (2025) · published 7 February 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Carlo.jl is a Monte Carlo simulation framework written in Julia. It provides MPI-parallel scheduling (including parallel tempering), organized storage of input, checkpoint, and output files, as well as statistical postprocessing. With a minimalist design, it aims to aid the development of high-quality Monte Carlo codes, especially for demanding applications in condensed matter and statistical physics. This hands-on user guide shows how to implement a simple code with Carlo.jl, how to run an existing stochastic series expansion code based on Carlo.jl, and provides benchmarks to show its efficacy.

  2 citations

• On the topology of solutions to random continuous constraint satisfaction problems

  Jaron Kent-Dobias

  SciPost Phys. 18, 158 (2025) · published 15 May 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We consider the set of solutions to $M$ random polynomial equations whose $N$ variables are restricted to the $(N-1)$-sphere. Each equation has independent Gaussian coefficients and a target value $V_0$. When solutions exist, they form a manifold. We compute the average Euler characteristic of this manifold in the limit of large $N$, and find different behavior depending on the target value $V_0$, the ratio $\alpha=M/N$, and the variances of the coefficients. We divide this behavior into five phases with different implications for the topology of the solution manifold. When $M=1$ there is a correspondence between this problem and level sets of the energy in the spherical spin glasses. We conjecture that the transition energy dividing two of the topological phases corresponds to the energy asymptotically reached by gradient descent from a random initial condition, possibly resolving an open problem in out-of-equilibrium dynamics. However, the quality of the available data leaves the question open for now.

  2 citations

• Staying on top of SMEFT-likelihood analyses

  Nina Elmer, Maeve Madigan, Tilman Plehn, Nikita Schmal

  SciPost Phys. 18, 108 (2025) · published 21 March 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We present a new global SMEFT analysis of LHC data in the top sector. After updating our set of measurements, we show how public ATLAS likelihoods can be incorporated into an external global analysis and how our analysis benefits from the additional information. We find that, unlike for the Higgs and electroweak sector, the SMEFT analysis of the top sector is mostly limited by the theory uncertainties. Finally, we present the first global SFitter analysis combining the top and electroweak-Higgs sectors.

  2 citations

• Spectral properties, localization transition and multifractal eigenvectors of the Laplacian on heterogeneous networks

  Jeferson D. da Silva, Diego Tapias, Peter Sollich, Fernando L. Metz

  SciPost Phys. 18, 047 (2025) · published 7 February 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the spectral properties and eigenvector statistics of the Laplacian on highly-connected networks with random coupling strengths and a gamma distribution of rescaled degrees. The spectral density, the distribution of the local density of states, the singularity spectrum and the multifractal exponents of this model exhibit a rich behaviour as a function of the first two moments of the coupling strengths and the variance of the rescaled degrees. In the case of random coupling strengths, the spectral density diverges within the bulk of the spectrum when degree fluctuations are strong enough. The emergence of this singular behaviour marks a transition from non-ergodic delocalized states to localized eigenvectors that exhibit pronounced multifractal scaling. For constant coupling strengths, the bulk of the spectrum is characterized by a regular spectral density. In this case, the corresponding eigenvectors display localization properties reminiscent of the critical point of the Anderson localization transition on random graphs.

  2 citations

• Spin-chain based quantum thermal machines

  Edoardo Maria Centamori, Michele Campisi, Vittorio Giovannetti

  SciPost Phys. 18, 160 (2025) · published 16 May 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the performance of quantum thermal machines in which the working fluid of the model is represented by a many-body quantum system that is periodically connected with external baths via local couplings. A formal characterization of the limit cycles of the set-up is presented in terms of the mixing properties of the quantum channel that describes the evolution of the fluid over a thermodynamic cycle. For the special case in which the system is a collection of spin $1/2$ particles coupled via magnetization preserving Hamiltonians, a full characterization of the possible operational regimes (i.e., thermal engine, refrigerator, heater and thermal accelerator) is provided: in this context we show in fact that the different regimes only depend upon a limited number of parameters (essentially the ratios of the energy gaps associated with the local Hamiltonians of the parts of the network which are in direct thermal contact with the baths).

  2 citations