Publications

Order by: publication date number of citations

• No superconductivity in Pb$_9$Cu$_1$(PO$_4$)$_6$O found in orbital and spin fluctuation exchange calculations

  Niklas Witt, Liang Si, Jan M. Tomczak, Karsten Held, Tim O. Wehling

  SciPost Phys. 15, 197 (2023) · published 21 November 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Finding a material that turns superconducting under ambient conditions has been the goal of over a century of research, and recently Pb$_{10-x}$Cu$_x$(PO$_4$)$_6$O aka LK-99 has been put forward as a possible contestant. In this work, we study the possibility of electronically driven superconductivity in LK-99 also allowing for electron or hole doping. We use an ab initio derived two-band model of the Cu $e_g$ orbitals for which we determine interaction values from the constrained random phase approximation (cRPA). For this two-band model we perform calculations in the fluctuation exchange (FLEX) approach to assess the strength of orbital and spin fluctuations. We scan over a broad range of parameters and enforce no magnetic or orbital symmetry breaking. Even under optimized conditions for superconductivity, spin and orbital fluctuations turn out to be too weak for superconductivity anywhere near to room-temperature. We contrast this finding to non-self-consistent RPA, where it is possible to induce spin singlet d-wave superconductivity at $T_c$ ≥300K if the system is put close enough to a magnetic instability.

  9 citations

• Dissipative cooling induced by pulse perturbations

  Andrea Nava, Michele Fabrizio

  SciPost Phys. 12, 014 (2022) · published 11 January 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We investigate the dynamics brought on by an impulse perturbation in two infinite-range quantum Ising models coupled to each other and to a dissipative bath. We show that, if dissipation is faster the higher the excitation energy, the pulse perturbation cools down the low-energy sector of the system, at the expense of the high-energy one, eventually stabilising a transient symmetry-broken state at temperatures higher than the equilibrium critical one. Such non-thermal quasi-steady state may survive for quite a long time after the pulse, if the latter is properly tailored.

  9 citations

• Topological Orders in (4+1)-Dimensions

  Theo Johnson-Freyd, Matthew Yu

  SciPost Phys. 13, 068 (2022) · published 27 September 2022 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We investigate the Morita equivalences of (4+1)-dimensional topological orders. We show that any (4+1)-dimensional super (fermionic) topological order admits a gapped boundary condition -- in other words, all (4+1)-dimensional super topological orders are Morita trivial. As a result, there are no inherently gapless super (3+1)-dimensional theories. On the other hand, we show that there are infinitely many algebraically Morita-inequivalent bosonic (4+1)-dimensional topological orders.

  9 citations

• Fermionic duality: General symmetry of open systems with strong dissipation and memory

  Valentin Bruch, Konstantin Nestmann, Jens Schulenborg, Maarten R. Wegewijs

  SciPost Phys. 11, 053 (2021) · published 10 September 2021 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We consider the exact time-evolution of a broad class of fermionic open quantum systems with both strong interactions and strong coupling to wide-band reservoirs. We present a nontrivial fermionic duality relation between the evolution of states (Schr\"odinger) and of observables (Heisenberg). We show how this highly nonintuitive relation can be understood and exploited in analytical calculations within all canonical approaches to quantum dynamics, covering Kraus measurement operators, the Choi-Jamio{\l}kowski state, time-convolution and convolutionless quantum master equations and generalized Lindblad jump operators. We discuss the insights this offers into the divisibility and causal structure of the dynamics and the application to nonperturbative Markov approximations and their initial-slip corrections. Our results underscore that predictions for fermionic models are already fixed by fundamental principles to a much greater extent than previously thought.

  9 citations

• Deconstructing S-Duality

  Kyle Aitken, Andreas Karch, Brandon Robinson

  SciPost Phys. 4, 032 (2018) · published 19 June 2018 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We use the technique of deconstruction to lift dualities from 2+1 to 3+1 dimensions. In this work we demonstrate the basic idea by deriving S-duality of maximally supersymmetric electromagnetism in 3+1 dimensions from mirror symmetry in 2+1. We also study the deconstruction of a non-supersymmetric duality in 3+1 dimensions using Abelian bosonization in 2+1 dimensions.

  9 citations

• Special transition and extraordinary phase on the surface of a two-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet

  Chengxiang Ding, Wenjing Zhu, Wenan Guo, Long Zhang

  SciPost Phys. 15, 012 (2023) · published 18 July 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Continuous phase transitions exhibit richer critical phenomena on the surface than in the bulk, because distinct surface universality classes can be realized at the same bulk critical point by tuning the surface interactions. The exploration of surface critical behavior provides a window looking into higher-dimensional boundary conformal field theories. In this work, we study the surface critical behavior of a two-dimensional (2D) quantum critical Heisenberg model by tuning the surface coupling strength, and discover a direct special transition on the surface from the ordinary phase into an extraordinary phase. The extraordinary phase has a long-range antiferromagnetic order on the surface, in sharp contrast to the logarithmic decaying spin correlations in the 3D classical O(3) model. The special transition point has a new set of critical exponents, $y_{s}=0.86(4)$ and $\eta_{\parallel}=-0.33(1)$, which are distinct from the special transition of the classical O(3) model and indicate a new surface universality class of the 3D O(3) Wilson-Fisher theory.

  9 citations

• Gaining insights on anyon condensation and 1-form symmetry breaking across a topological phase transition in a deformed toric code model

  Joe Huxford, Dung Xuan Nguyen, Yong Baek Kim

  SciPost Phys. 15, 253 (2023) · published 22 December 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We examine the condensation and confinement mechanisms exhibited by a deformed toric code model proposed in [Castelnovo and Chamon, Phys. Rev. B 77, 054433 (2008)]. The model describes both sides of a phase transition from a topological phase to a trivial phase. Our findings reveal an unconventional confinement mechanism that governs the behavior of the toric code excitations within the trivial phase. Specifically, the confined magnetic charge can still be displaced without any energy cost, albeit only via the application of non-unitary operators that reduce the norm of the state. This peculiar phenomenon can be attributed to a previously known feature of the model: It maintains the non-trivial ground state degeneracy of the toric code throughout the transition. We describe how this degeneracy arises in both phases in terms of spontaneous symmetry breaking of a generalized (1-form) symmetry and explain why such symmetry breaking is compatible with the trivial phase. The present study implies the existence of subtle considerations that must be addressed in the context of recently posited connections between topological phases and broken higher-form symmetries.

  9 citations

• Generating dense packings of hard spheres by soft interaction design

  Thibaud Maimbourg, Mauro Sellitto, Guilhem Semerjian, Francesco Zamponi

  SciPost Phys. 4, 039 (2018) · published 26 June 2018 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Packing spheres efficiently in large dimension $d$ is a particularly difficult optimization problem. In this paper we add an isotropic interaction potential to the pure hard-core repulsion, and show that one can tune it in order to maximize a lower bound on packing density. Our results suggest that exponentially many (in the number of particles) distinct disordered sphere packings can be effectively constructed by this method, up to a packing fraction close to $7\, d\, 2^{-d}$. The latter is determined by solving the inverse problem of maximizing the dynamical glass transition over the space of the interaction potentials. Our method crucially exploits a recent exact formulation of the thermodynamics and the dynamics of simple liquids in infinite dimension.

  9 citations

• Emergent XY* transition driven by symmetry fractionalization and anyon condensation

  Michael Schuler, Louis-Paul Henry, Yuan-Ming Lu, Andreas M. Läuchli

  SciPost Phys. 14, 001 (2023) · published 11 January 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  Anyons in a topologically ordered phase can carry fractional quantum numbers with respect to the symmetry group of the considered system, one example being the fractional charge of the quasiparticles and quasiholes in the fractional quantum Hall effect. When such symmetry-fractionalized anyons condense, the resulting phase must spontaneously break the symmetry and display a local order parameter. In this paper, we study the phase diagram and anyon condensation transitions of a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological order perturbed by Ising interactions in the Toric Code. The interplay between the global (``onsite'') Ising ($\mathbb{Z}_2$) symmetry and the lattice space group symmetries results in a non-trivial symmetry fractionalization class for the anyons, and is shown to lead to two characteristically different confined, symmetry-broken phases. To understand the anyon condensation transitions, we use the recently introduced critical torus energy spectrum technique to identify a line of emergent 2+1D XY* transitions ending at a fine-tuned (Ising$^2$)* critical point. We provide numerical evidence for the occurrence of two symmetry breaking patterns predicted by the specific symmetry fractionalization class of the condensed anyons in the explored phase diagram. In combination with large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations we measure unusually large critical exponents $\eta$ for the scaling of the correlation function at the continuous anyon condensation transitions, and we further identify lines of (weakly) first order transitions in the phase diagram. As an important additional result, we discuss the phase diagram of a resulting 2+1D Ashkin-Teller model, where we demonstrate that torus spectroscopy is capable of identifying emergent XY/O(2) critical behaviour, thereby solving some longstanding open questions in the domain of the 3D Ashkin-Teller models. To establish the generality of our results, we propose a field theoretical description capturing the transition from a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological order to either $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry broken phase, which is in excellent agreement with the numerical results.

  9 citations

• Towards non-invertible anomalies from generalized Ising models

  Shang Liu, Wenjie Ji

  SciPost Phys. 15, 150 (2023) · published 10 October 2023 | Toggle abstract · pdf

  We present a general approach to the bulk-boundary correspondence of noninvertible topological phases, including both topological and fracton orders. This is achieved by a novel bulk construction protocol where solvable $(d+1)$-dimensional bulk models with noninvertible topology are constructed from the so-called generalized Ising (GI) models in $d$ dimensions. The GI models can then terminate on the boundaries of the bulk models. The construction generates abundant examples, including not only prototype ones such as $\mathbb{Z}_2$ toric code models in any dimensions no less than two, and the X-cube fracton model, but also more diverse ones such as the $\mathbb{Z}_2× \mathbb{Z}_2$ topological order, the 4d $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological order with pure-loop excitations, etc. The boundary of the solvable model is potentially anomalous and corresponds to precisely only sectors of the GI model that host certain total symmetry charges and/or satisfy certain boundary conditions. We derive a concrete condition for such bulk-boundary correspondence. The condition is violated only when the bulk model is either trivial or fracton ordered. A generalized notion of Kramers-Wannier duality plays an important role in the construction. Also, utilizing the duality, we find an example where a single anomalous theory can be realized on the boundaries of two distinct bulk fracton models, a phenomenon not expected in the case of topological orders. More generally, topological orders may also be generated starting with lattice models beyond the GI models, such as those with symmetry protected topological orders, through a variant bulk construction, which we provide in an appendix.

  9 citations