Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• Interaction and collision of skyrmions in chiral antiferromagnets

  George Theodorou, Bruno Barton-Singer, Stavros Komineas

  SciPost Phys. 18, 037 (2025) · published 30 January 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Skyrmions in an antiferromagnet can travel as solitary waves in stark contrast to the situation in ferromagnets. Traveling skyrmion solutions have been found numerically in chiral antiferromagnets. We study head-on collision events between two skyrmions. We find that the result of the collision depends on the initial velocity of the skyrmions. For small velocities, the skyrmions shrink as they approach, then bounce back and eventually acquire almost their initial speed. For larger velocities, the skyrmions approach each other and shrink until they become singular points at some finite separation and are eventually annihilated. Considering skyrmion energetics, we can determine the regimes of the different dynamical behaviors. Using a collective co-ordinate approach, we reproduce the dynamics of the collisions including the variation of the size of the skyrmions and collapse above a critical velocity.

• Bethe Ansatz inside Calogero-Sutherland models

  Gwenaël Ferrando, Jules Lamers, Fedor Levkovich-Maslyuk, Didina Serban

  SciPost Phys. 18, 035 (2025) · published 28 January 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study the trigonometric quantum spin-Calogero–Sutherland model, and the Haldane–Shastry spin chain as a special case, using a Bethe-Ansatz analysis. We harness the model's Yangian symmetry to import the standard tools of integrability for Heisenberg spin chains into the world of integrable long-range models with spins. From the transfer matrix with a diagonal twist we construct Heisenberg-style symmetries (Bethe algebra) that refine the usual hierarchy of commuting Hamiltonians (quantum determinant) of the spin-Calogero–Sutherland model. We compute the first few of these new conserved charges explicitly, and diagonalise them by Bethe Ansatz inside each irreducible Yangian representation. This yields a new eigenbasis for the spin-Calogero–Sutherland model that generalises the Yangian Gelfand–Tsetlin basis of Takemura–Uglov. The Bethe-Ansatz analysis involves non-generic values of the inhomogeneities. Our review of the inhomogeneous Heisenberg XXX chain, with special attention to how the Bethe Ansatz works in the presence of fusion, may be of independent interest.

• Numerical aspects of large deviations

  Alexander K. Hartmann

  SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 100 (2025) · published 30 September 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  An introduction to numerical large-deviation sampling is provided. First, direct biasing with a known distribution is explained. As simple example, the Bernoulli process is used throughout the text. Next, Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations are introduced. In particular, the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm is explained. As first implementation of MCMC, sampling of the plain Bernoulli model is shown. Next, an exponential bias is used for the same model, which allows one to obtain the tails of the distribution of a measurable quantity. This approach is generalized to MCMC simulations, where the states are vectors of $U(0,1)$ random entries. This allows one to use the exponential or any other bias to access the large-deviation properties of rather arbitrary random processes. Finally, some recent research applications to study more complex models are discussed.

• Bethe vectors and recurrence relations for twisted Yangian based models

  Vidas Regelskis

  SciPost Phys. 17, 126 (2024) · published 5 November 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We study Olshanski twisted Yangian based models, known as one-dimensional "soliton non-preserving" open spin chains, by means of algebraic Bethe Ansatz. The even case, when the bulk symmetry is $\mathfrak{gl}_{2n}$ and the boundary symmetry is $\mathfrak{sp}_{2n}$ or $\mathfrak{so}_{2n}$, was studied in [Ann. Henri Poincaré 20, 339 (2018)]. In the present work, we focus on the odd case, when the bulk symmetry is $\mathfrak{gl}_{2n+1}$ and the boundary symmetry is $\mathfrak{so}_{2n+1}$. We explicitly construct Bethe vectors and present a more symmetric form of the trace formula. We use the composite model approach and $Y(\mathfrak{gl}_n)$-type recurrence relations to obtain recurrence relations for twisted Yangian based Bethe vectors, for both even and odd cases.

• Phenomenological study on correlation between flow harmonics and mean transverse momentum in nuclear collisions

  Chunjian Zhang, Jiangyong Jia, Shengli Huang

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 10, 009 (2022) · published 10 August 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  To assess the properties of the quark-gluon plasma formed in nuclear collisions, the Pearson correlation coefficient between flow harmonics and mean transverse momentum, $\rho\left(v_{n}^{2},\left[p_{\mathrm{T}}\right]\right)$, reflecting the overlapped geometry of colliding atomic nuclei, is measured. $\rho\left(v_{2}^{2},\left[p_{\mathrm{T}}\right]\right)$ was found to be particularly sensitive to the quadrupole deformation of the nuclei. We study the influence of the nuclear quadrupole deformation on $\rho\left(v_{n}^{2},\left[p_{\mathrm{T}}\right]\right)$ in $\rm{Au+Au}$ and $\rm{U+U}$ collisions at RHIC energy using $\rm{AMPT}$ transport model, and show that the $\rho\left(v_{2}^{2},\left[p_{\mathrm{T}}\right]\right)$ is reduced by the prolate deformation $\beta_2$ and turns to change sign in ultra-central collisions (UCC).

• Single-gap isotropic $s-$wave superconductivity in single crystals AuSn$_4$

  Sunil Ghimire, Kamal R. Joshi, Elizabeth H. Krenkel, Makariy A. Tanatar, Marcin Kończykowski, Romain Grasset, Paul C. Canfield, Ruslan Prozorov

  SciPost Phys. 17, 116 (2024) · published 21 October 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  London, $\lambda_L (T)$, and Campbell, $\lambda_{C} (T)$, penetration depths were measured in single crystals of a topological superconductor candidate AuSn$_4$. At low temperatures, $\lambda_L (T)$ is exponentially attenuated and, if fitted with the power law, $\lambda(T) \sim T^n$, gives exponents $n>4$, indistinguishable from the isotropic single $s-$wave gap Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) asymptotic. The superfluid density fits perfectly in the entire temperature range to the BCS theory. The superconducting transition temperature, $T_c = 2.40 ± 0.05$ K, does not change after 2.5 MeV electron irradiation, indicating the validity of the Anderson theorem for isotropic $s-$wave superconductors. Campbell penetration depth before and after electron irradiation shows no hysteresis between the zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) protocols, consistent with the parabolic pinning potential. Interestingly, the critical current density estimated from the original Campbell theory decreases after irradiation, implying that a more sophisticated theory involving collective effects is needed to describe vortex pinning in this system. In general, our thermodynamic measurements strongly suggest that the bulk response of the AuSn$_4$ crystals is fully consistent with the isotropic $s-$wave weak-coupling BCS superconductivity.

• The quantum cartpole: A benchmark environment for non-linear reinforcement learning

  Kai Meinerz, Simon Trebst, Mark Rudner, Evert van Nieuwenburg

  SciPost Phys. Core 7, 026 (2024) · published 7 May 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Feedback-based control is the de-facto standard when it comes to controlling classical stochastic systems and processes. However, standard feedback-based control methods are challenged by quantum systems due to measurement induced backaction and partial observability. Here we remedy this by using weak quantum measurements and model-free reinforcement learning agents to perform quantum control. By comparing control algorithms with and without state estimators to stabilize a quantum particle in an unstable state near a local potential energy maximum, we show how a trade-off between state estimation and controllability arises. For the scenario where the classical analogue is highly nonlinear, the reinforcement learned controller has an advantage over the standard controller. Additionally, we demonstrate the feasibility of using transfer learning to develop a quantum control agent trained via reinforcement learning on a classical surrogate of the quantum control problem. Finally, we present results showing how the reinforcement learning control strategy differs from the classical controller in the non-linear scenarios.

• A perturbation theory for multi-time correlation functions in open quantum systems

  Piotr Szańkowski

  SciPost Phys. 19, 066 (2025) · published 3 September 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Dynamical maps are the principal subject of the open system theory. Formally, the dynamical map of a given open quantum system is a density matrix transformation that takes any initial state and sends it to the state at a later time. Physically, it encapsulates the system's evolution due to coupling with its environment. Hence, the theory provides a flexible and accurate framework for computing expectation values of open system observables. However, expectation values-or more generally, single-time correlation functions-capture only the simplest aspects of a quantum system's dynamics. A complete characterization of the dynamics requires access to multi-time correlation functions as well: phenomena like detailed balance, linear and non-linear response, non-equilibrium transport in general, or even sequential measurements of system observables are all described in terms of multi-time correlations. For closed systems, such correlations are well-defined, even though knowledge of the system's state alone is insufficient to determine them fully. In contrast, the standard dynamical map formalism for open systems does not account for multi-time correlations, as it is fundamentally limited to describing state evolution. Here, we extend the scope of open quantum system theory by developing a systematic perturbation theory for computing multi-time correlation functions.

• Annihilating dark matter search with 12 years of Fermi LAT data in nearby galaxy clusters

  Charles Thorpe-Morgan, D. Malyshev, C.-A. Stegen, Andrea Santangelo, J. Jochum

  SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 071 (2023) · published 10 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Galaxy clusters contain an abundance of dark matter making them attractive laboratories for indirect DM searches. This work details a search for signals of pair annihilation from WIMP dark matter in the GeV gamma ray regime. We perform this search in five low $z$ and high galactic latitude galaxy clusters (Centaurus, Coma, Virgo, Perseus and Fornax); using nearly 12 years of Fermi/LAT data. Through the non-detection of this characteristic signal, we derive constraints on the annihilation cross-section of DM pair annihilation into the $b\overline{b}$, $W^+W^-$ and $\gamma\gamma$ channels. The limits obtained are of a comparable magnitude to those of recently derived from Fermi/LAT observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies.

• Gauge theory for topological waves in continuum fluids with odd viscosity

  Keisuke Fujii, Yuto Ashida

  SciPost Phys. Core 8, 058 (2025) · published 28 August 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We consider two-dimensional continuum fluids with odd viscosity under a chiral body force. The chiral body force makes the low-energy excitation spectrum of the fluids gapped, and the odd viscosity allows us to introduce the first Chern number of each energy band in the fluids. Employing a mapping between hydrodynamic variables and U(1) gauge field strengths, we derive a U(1) gauge theory for topologically nontrivial waves. The resulting U(1) gauge theory is given by the Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory with an additional term associated with odd viscosity. We then explicitly solve the equations of motion for the gauge fields in the presence of the boundary and find edge mode solutions. We finally confirm the bulk-boundary correspondence in the context of continuum systems.