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SciPost Physics Vol. 15 issue 2 (August 2023)

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Gravity from thermodynamics: Optimal transport and negative effective dimensions

Giuseppe Bruno De Luca, Nicolò De Ponti, Andrea Mondino, Alessandro Tomasiello

SciPost Phys. 15, 039 (2023) · published 1 August 2023 | · pdf

We prove an equivalence between the classical equations of motion governing vacuum gravity compactifications (and more general warped-product spacetimes) and a concavity property of entropy under time evolution. This is obtained by linking the theory of optimal transport to the Raychaudhuri equation in the internal space, where the warp factor introduces effective notions of curvature and (negative) internal dimension. When the Reduced Energy Condition is satisfied, concavity can be characterized in terms of the cosmological constant $\Lambda$; as a consequence, the masses of the spin-two Kaluza-Klein fields obey bounds in terms of $\Lambda$ alone. We show that some Cheeger bounds on the KK spectrum hold even without assuming synthetic Ricci lower bounds, in the large class of infinitesimally Hilbertian metric measure spaces, which includes D-brane and O-plane singularities. As an application, we show how some approximate string theory solutions in the literature achieve scale separation, and we construct a new explicit parametrically scale-separated AdS solution of M-theory supported by Casimir energy.
The classical Heisenberg model on the centred pyrochlore lattice

Rajah P. Nutakki, Ludovic D. C. Jaubert, Lode Pollet

SciPost Phys. 15, 040 (2023) · published 1 August 2023 | · pdf

The centred pyrochlore lattice is a novel geometrically frustrated lattice, realized in the metal-organic framework Mn(ta)$_2$ [Phys. Rev. Research 5, L022018 (2023)] where the basic unit of spins is a five site centred tetrahedron. Here, we present an in-depth theoretical study of the $J_1-J_2$ classical Heisenberg model on this lattice, using a combination of mean-field analytical methods and Monte Carlo simulations. We find a rich phase diagram with low temperature states exhibiting ferrimagnetic order, partial ordering, and a highly degenerate spin liquid with distinct regimes of low temperature correlations. We discuss in detail how the regime displaying broadened pinch points in its spin structure factor is consistent with an effective description in terms of a fluid of interacting charges. We also show how this picture holds in two dimensions on the analogous centred kagome lattice and elucidate the connection to the physics of thin films in ($d+1$) dimensions. Furthermore, we show that a Coulomb phase can be stabilized on the centred pyrochlore lattice by the addition of further neighbour couplings. This demonstrates the centred pyrochlore lattice is an experimentally relevant geometry which naturally hosts emergent gauge fields in the presence of charges at low energies.
Inferring nuclear structure from heavy isobar collisions using Trajectum

Govert Nijs, Wilke van der Schee

SciPost Phys. 15, 041 (2023) · published 1 August 2023 | · pdf

Nuclei with equal number of baryons but varying proton number (isobars) have many commonalities, but differ in both electric charge and nuclear structure. Relativistic collisions of such isobars provide unique opportunities to study the variation of the magnetic field, provided the nuclear structure is well understood. In this work we simulate collisions using several state-of-the-art parametrizations of the $^{96}_{40}$Zr and $^{96}_{44}$Ru isobars and show that a comparison with the exciting STAR measurement [arXiv:2109.00131] of ultrarelativistic collisions can uniquely identify the structure of both isobars. This not only provides an urgently needed understanding of the structure of the Zirconium and Ruthenium isobars, but also paves the way for more detailed studies of nuclear structure using relativistic heavy ion collisions.
Traveling discontinuity at the quantum butterfly front

Camille Aron, Éric Brunet, Aditi Mitra

SciPost Phys. 15, 042 (2023) · published 2 August 2023 | · pdf

We formulate a kinetic theory of quantum information scrambling in the context of a paradigmatic model of interacting electrons in the vicinity of a superconducting phase transition. We carefully derive a set of coupled partial differential equations that effectively govern the dynamics of information spreading in generic dimensions. Their solutions show that scrambling propagates at the maximal speed set by the Fermi velocity. At early times, we find exponential growth at a rate set by the inelastic scattering. At late times, we find that scrambling is governed by shock-wave dynamics with traveling waves exhibiting a discontinuity at the boundary of the light cone. Notably, we find perfectly causal dynamics where the solutions do not spill outside of the light cone.
Partons as unique ground states of quantum Hall parent Hamiltonians: The case of Fibonacci anyons

Mostafa Tanhayi Ahari, Sumanta Bandyopadhyay, Zohar Nussinov, Alexander Seidel, Gerardo Ortiz

SciPost Phys. 15, 043 (2023) · published 2 August 2023 | · pdf

We present microscopic, multiple Landau level, (frustration-free and positive semi-definite) parent Hamiltonians whose ground states, realizing different quantum Hall fluids, are parton-like and whose excitations display either Abelian or non-Abelian braiding statistics. We prove ground state energy monotonicity theorems for systems with different particle numbers in multiple Landau levels, demonstrate S-duality in the case of toroidal geometry, and establish complete sets of zero modes of special Hamiltonians stabilizing parton-like states, specifically at filling factor $\nu=2/3$. The emergent Entangled Pauli Principle (EPP), introduced in [Phys. Rev. B 98, 161118(R) (2018)] and which defines the "DNA" of the quantum Hall fluid, is behind the exact determination of the topological characteristics of the fluid, including charge and braiding statistics of excitations, and effective edge theory descriptions. When the closed-shell condition is satisfied, the densest (i.e., the highest density and lowest total angular momentum) zero-energy mode is a unique parton state. We conjecture that parton-like states generally span the subspace of many-body wave functions with the two-body $M$-clustering property within any given number of Landau levels, that is, wave functions with $M$th-order coincidence plane zeroes and both holomorphic and anti-holomorphic dependence on variables. General arguments are supplemented by rigorous considerations for the $M=3$ case of fermions in four Landau levels. For this case, we establish that the zero mode counting can be done by enumerating certain patterns consistent with an underlying EPP. We apply the coherent state approach of [Phys. Rev. X 1, 021015 (2011)] to show that the elementary (localized) bulk excitations are Fibonacci anyons. This demonstrates that the DNA associated with fractional quantum Hall states encodes all universal properties. Specifically, for parton-like states, we establish a link with tensor network structures of finite bond dimension that emerge via root level entanglement.
Coupled Fredkin and Motzkin chains from quantum six- and nineteen-vertex models

Zhao Zhang, Israel Klich

SciPost Phys. 15, 044 (2023) · published 2 August 2023 | · pdf

We generalize the area-law violating models of Fredkin and Motzkin spin chains into two dimensions by building quantum six- and nineteen-vertex models with correlated interactions. The Hamiltonian is frustration free, and its projectors generate ergodic dynamics within the subspace of height configuration that are non negative. The ground state is a volume- and color-weighted superposition of classical bi-color vertex configurations with non-negative heights in the bulk and zero height on the boundary. The entanglement entropy between subsystems has a phase transition as the $q$-deformation parameter is tuned, which is shown to be robust in the presence of an external field acting on the color degree of freedom. The ground state undergoes a quantum phase transition between area- and volume-law entanglement phases with a critical point where entanglement entropy scales as a function $L\log L$ of the linear system size $L$. Intermediate power law scalings between $L\log L$ and $L^2$ can be achieved with an inhomogeneous deformation parameter that approaches 1 at different rates in the thermodynamic limit. For the $q>1$ phase, we construct a variational wave function that establishes an upper bound on the spectral gap that scales as $q^{-L^3/8}$.
Universality in Anderson localization on random graphs with varying connectivity

Piotr Sierant, Maciej Lewenstein, Antonello Scardicchio

SciPost Phys. 15, 045 (2023) · published 3 August 2023 | · pdf

We perform a thorough and complete analysis of the Anderson localization transition on several models of random graphs with regular and random connectivity. The unprecedented precision and abundance of our exact diagonalization data (both spectra and eigenstates), together with new finite size scaling and statistical analysis of the graph ensembles, unveils a universal behavior which is described by two simple, integer, scaling exponents. A by-product of such analysis is a reconciliation of the tension between the results of perturbation theory coming from strong disorder and earlier numerical works, which seemed to suggest that there should be a non-ergodic region above a given value of disorder $W_{E}$ which is strictly less than the Anderson localization critical disorder $W_C$, and that of other works which suggest that there is no such region. We find that, although no separate $W_{E}$ exists from $W_C$, the length scale at which fully developed ergodicity is found diverges like $|W-W_C|^{-1}$, while the critical length over which delocalization develops is $\sim |W-W_C|^{-1/2}$. The separation of these two scales at the critical point allows for a true non-ergodic, delocalized region. In addition, by looking at eigenstates and studying leading and sub-leading terms in system size-dependence of participation entropies, we show that the former contain information about the non-ergodicity volume which becomes non-trivial already deep in the delocalized regime. We also discuss the quantitative similarities between the Anderson transition on random graphs and many-body localization transition.
Nonequilibrium phases of ultracold bosons with cavity-induced dynamic gauge fields

Arkadiusz Kosior, Helmut Ritsch, Farokh Mivehvar

SciPost Phys. 15, 046 (2023) · published 3 August 2023 | · pdf

Gauge fields are a central concept in fundamental theories of physics, and responsible for mediating long-range interactions between elementary particles. Recently, it has been proposed that dynamical gauge fields can be naturally engineered by photons in composite, neutral quantum gas-cavity systems using suitable atom-photon interactions. Here we comprehensively investigate nonequilibrium dynamical phases appearing in a two-leg bosonic lattice model with leg-dependent, dynamical complex tunnelings mediated by cavity-assisted two-photon Raman processes. The system constitutes a minimal dynamical flux-lattice model. We study fixed points of the equations of motion and their stability, the resultant dynamical phase diagram, and the corresponding phase transitions and bifurcations. Notably, the phase diagram features a plethora of nonequilibrium dynamical phases including limit-cycle and chaotic phases. In the end, we relate regular periodic dynamics (i.e., limit-cycle phases) of the system to time crystals.
Cornering extended Starobinsky inflation with CMB and SKA

Tanmoy Modak, Lennart Röver, Björn Malte Schäfer, Benedikt Schosser, Tilman Plehn

SciPost Phys. 15, 047 (2023) · published 3 August 2023 | · pdf

Starobinsky inflation is an attractive, fundamental model to explain the Planck measurements, and its higher-order extension may allow us to probe quantum gravity effects. We show that future CMB data combined with the 21cm intensity map from SKA will meaningfully probe such an extended Starobinsky model. A combined analysis will provide a precise measurement and intriguing insight into inflationary dynamics, even accounting for correlations with astrophysical parameters.
Quantum chaos in interacting Bose-Bose mixtures

Tran Duong Anh-Tai, Mathias Mikkelsen, Thomas Busch, Thomás Fogarty

SciPost Phys. 15, 048 (2023) · published 4 August 2023 | · pdf

The appearance of chaotic quantum dynamics significantly depends on the symmetry properties of a system, and in cold atomic systems many of these can be experimentally controlled. In this work, we systematically study the emergence of quantum chaos in a minimal system describing one-dimensional harmonically trapped Bose-Bose mixtures by tuning the particle-particle interactions. Using an improved exact diagonalization scheme, we examine the transition from integrability to chaos when the inter-component interaction changes from weak to strong. Our study is based on the analysis of the level spacing distribution and the distribution of the matrix elements of observables in terms of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis and their dynamics. We show that one can obtain strong signatures of chaos by increasing the inter-component interaction strength and breaking the symmetry of intra-component interactions.
Constant-time quantum algorithm for homology detection in closed curves

Nhat A. Nghiem Vu, Xianfeng David Gu, Tzu-Chieh Wei

SciPost Phys. 15, 049 (2023) · published 4 August 2023 | · pdf

Given a loop or more generally 1-cycle $r$ of size L on a closed two-dimensional manifold or surface, represented by a triangulated mesh, a question in computational topology asks whether or not it is homologous to zero. We frame and tackle this problem in the quantum setting. Given an oracle that one can use to query the inclusion of edges on a closed curve, we design a quantum algorithm for such a homology detection with a constant running time, with respect to the size or the number of edges on the loop $r$, requiring only a single usage of oracle. In contrast, classical algorithm requires $\Omega(L)$ oracle usage, followed by a linear time processing and can be improved to logarithmic by using a parallel algorithm. Our quantum algorithm can be extended to check whether two closed loops belong to the same homology class. Furthermore, it can be applied to a specific problem in the homotopy detection, namely, checking whether two curves are not homotopically equivalent on a closed two-dimensional manifold.
Strongly-interacting bosons at 2D-1D dimensional crossover

Hepeng Yao, Lorenzo Pizzino, Thierry Giamarchi

SciPost Phys. 15, 050 (2023) · published 7 August 2023 | · pdf

We study a two dimensional (2D) system of interacting quantum bosons, subjected to a continuous periodic potential in one direction. The correlation of such system exhibits a dimensional crossover between a canonical 2D behavior with Berezinski-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) properties and a one-dimensional (1D) behavior when the potential is large and splits the system in essentially independent tubes. The latter is in the universality class of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquids (TLL). Using a continuous quantum Monte Carlo method, we investigate this dimensional crossover by computing longitudinal and transverse superfluid fraction as well as the superfluid correlation as a function of temperature, interactions and potential. Especially, we find the correlation function evolves from BKT to TLL type, with special intermediate behaviors appearing at the dimensional crossover. We discuss how the consequences of the dimensional crossover can be investigated in cold atomic gases experiments.
Lieb-Schultz-Mattis, Luttinger, and 't Hooft - anomaly matching in lattice systems

Meng Cheng, Nathan Seiberg

SciPost Phys. 15, 051 (2023) · published 7 August 2023 | · pdf

We analyze lattice Hamiltonian systems whose global symmetries have 't Hooft anomalies. As is common in the study of anomalies, they are probed by coupling the system to classical background gauge fields. For flat fields (vanishing field strength), the nonzero spatial components of the gauge fields can be thought of as twisted boundary conditions, or equivalently, as topological defects. The symmetries of the twisted Hilbert space and their representations capture the anomalies. We demonstrate this approach with a number of examples. In some of them, the anomalous symmetries are internal symmetries of the lattice system, but they do not act on-site. (We clarify the notion of "on-site action.") In other cases, the anomalous symmetries involve lattice translations. Using this approach we frame many known and new results in a unified fashion. In this work, we limit ourselves to 1+1d systems with a spatial lattice. In particular, we present a lattice system that flows to the $c=1$ compact boson system with any radius (no BKT transition) with the full internal symmetry of the continuum theory, with its anomalies and its T-duality. As another application, we analyze various spin chain models and phrase their Lieb-Shultz-Mattis theorem as an 't Hooft anomaly matching condition. We also show in what sense filling constraints like Luttinger theorem can and cannot be viewed as reflecting an anomaly. As a by-product, our understanding allows us to use information from the continuum theory to derive some exact results in lattice model of interest, such as the lattice momenta of the low-energy states.
Weak ergodicity breaking in non-Hermitian many-body systems

Qianqian Chen, Shuai A. Chen, Zheng Zhu

SciPost Phys. 15, 052 (2023) · published 7 August 2023 | · pdf

The recent discovery of persistent revivals in the Rydberg-atom quantum simulator has revealed a weakly ergodicity-breaking mechanism dubbed quantum many-body scars, which are a set of nonthermal states embedded in otherwise thermal spectra. Until now, such a mechanism has been mainly studied in Hermitian systems. Here, we establish the non-Hermitian quantum many-body scars and systematically characterize their nature from dynamic revivals, entanglement entropy, physical observables, and energy level statistics. Notably, we find the non-Hermitian quantum many-body scars exhibit significantly enhanced coherent revival dynamics when approaching the exceptional point. The signatures of non-Hermitian scars switch from the real-energy axis to the imaginary-energy axis after a real-to-complex spectrum transition driven by increasing non-Hermiticity, where an exceptional point and a quantum tricritical point emerge simultaneously. We further examine the stability of non-Hermitian quantum many-body scars against external fields, reveal the non-Hermitian quantum criticality and eventually set up the whole phase diagram. The possible connection to the open quantum many-body systems is also explored. Our findings offer insights for realizing long-lived coherent states in non-Hermitian many-body systems.
Anomaly Awareness

Charanjit K. Khosa, Veronica Sanz

SciPost Phys. 15, 053 (2023) · published 8 August 2023 | · pdf

We present a new algorithm for anomaly detection called Anomaly Awareness. The algorithm learns about normal events while being made aware of the anomalies through a modification of the cost function. We show how this method works in different Particle Physics situations and in standard Computer Vision tasks. For example, we apply the method to images from a Fat Jet topology generated by Standard Model Top and QCD events, and test it against an array of new physics scenarios, including Higgs production with EFT effects and resonances decaying into two, three or four subjets. We find that the algorithm is effective identifying anomalies not seen before, and becomes robust as we make it aware of a varied-enough set of anomalies.
Holography for bulk states in 3D quantum gravity

Joris Raeymaekers, Gideon Vos

SciPost Phys. 15, 054 (2023) · published 8 August 2023 | · pdf

In this work we discuss the holographic description of states in the Hilbert space of (2+1)-dimensional quantum gravity, living on a time slice in the bulk. We focus on pure gravity coupled to pointlike sources for heavy spinning particles. We develop a formulation where the equations for the backreacted metric reduce to two decoupled Liouville equations with delta-function sources under pseudosphere boundary conditions. We show that both the semiclassical wavefunction and the gravity solution are determined by a universal object, namely a classical Virasoro vacuum block on the sphere. In doing so we derive a version of Polyakov's conjecture, as well as an existence criterion, for classical Liouville theory on the pseudosphere. We also discuss how some of these results are modified when considering closed universes with compact spatial slices.
Conformal dispersion relations for defects and boundaries

Lorenzo Bianchi, Davide Bonomi

SciPost Phys. 15, 055 (2023) · published 8 August 2023 | · pdf

We derive a dispersion relation for two-point correlation functions in defect conformal field theories. The correlator is expressed as an integral over a (single) discontinuity that is controlled by the bulk channel operator product expansion (OPE). This very simple relation is particularly useful in perturbative settings where the discontinuity is determined by a subset of bulk operators. In particular, we apply it to holographic correlators of two chiral primary operators in $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super Yang-Mills theory in the presence of a supersymmetric Wilson line. With a very simple computation, we are able to reproduce and extend existing results. We also propose a second relation, which reconstructs the correlator from a double discontinuity, and is controlled by the defect channel OPE. Finally, for the case of codimension-one defects (boundaries and interfaces) we derive a dispersion relation which receives contributions from both OPE channels and we apply it to the boundary correlator in the O(N) critical model. We reproduce the order $\epsilon^2$ result in the $\epsilon$-expansion using as input a finite number of boundary CFT data.
Near-extremal limits of warped CFTs

Ankit Aggarwal, Alejandra Castro, Stéphane Detournay, Beatrix Mühlmann

SciPost Phys. 15, 056 (2023) · published 9 August 2023 | · pdf

Warped conformal field theories (WCFTs) are two-dimensional non-relativistic systems, with a chiral scaling and shift symmetry. We present a detailed derivation of the near-extremal limit for their torus partition function. This limit requires large values of the central charge, and is only consistent for non-unitary WCFT. We compare our analysis with previous studies of WCFT and its relation to a one-dimensional warped-Schwarzian theory. We discuss different ensembles of warped CFTs and contrast our results with analogous limits in two-dimensional CFTs.
Massive superfluid vortices and vortex necklaces on a planar annulus

Matteo Caldara, Andrea Richaud, Massimo Capone, Pietro Massignan

SciPost Phys. 15, 057 (2023) · published 9 August 2023 | · pdf

We study a superfluid in a planar annulus hosting vortices with massive cores. An analytical point-vortex model shows that the massive vortices may perform radial oscillations on top of the usual uniform precession of their massless counterpart. Beyond a critical vortex mass, this oscillatory motion becomes unstable and the vortices are driven towards one of the edges. The analogy with the motion of a charged particle in a static electromagnetic field leads to the development of a plasma orbit theory that provides a description of the trajectories which remains accurate even beyond the regime of small radial oscillations. These results are confirmed by the numerical solution of coupled two-component Gross-Pitaevskii equations. The analysis is then extended to a necklace of vortices symmetrically arranged within the annulus.
Search for ultralight axion dark matter in a side-band analysis of a ${}^{199}$Hg free-spin precession signal

C. Abel, N. J. Ayres, G. Ban, G. Bison, K. Bodek, V. Bondar, E. Chanel, C. B. Crawford, M. Daum, B. Dechenaux, S. Emmenegger, P. Flaux, W. C. Griffith, P. G. Harris, Y. Kermaidic, K. Kirch, S. Komposch, P. A. Koss, J. Krempel, B. Lauss, T. Lefort, Prajwal MohanMurthy, Oscar Naviliat Cuncic, D. Pais, F. M. Piegsa, Guillaume Pignol, M. Rawlik, D. Ries, Stephanie Roccia, D. Rozpedzik, Philipp Schmidt-Wellenburg, N. Severijns, Y. V. Stadnik, J. A. Thorne, A. Weis, E. Wursten, Jacek Zejma, Geza Zsigmond

SciPost Phys. 15, 058 (2023) · published 9 August 2023 | · pdf

Ultra-low-mass axions are a viable dark matter candidate and may form a coherently oscillating classical field. Nuclear spins in experiments on Earth might couple to this oscillating axion dark-matter field, when propagating on Earth's trajectory through our Galaxy. This spin coupling resembles an oscillating pseudo-magnetic field which modulates the spin precession of nuclear spins. Here we report on the null result of a demonstration experiment searching for a frequency modulation of the free spin-precession signal of \magHg in a 1 $\mu$T magnetic field. Our search covers the axion mass range $10^{-16}$ eV $\lesssim m_a \lesssim 10^{-13}$ eV and achieves a peak sensitivity to the axion-nucleon coupling of $g_{aNN} \approx 3.5 \times 10^{-6}$ GeV$^{-1}$.
Higher-point integrands in $\mathcal{N} = 4$ super Yang-Mills theory

Till Bargheer, Thiago Fleury, Vasco Gonçalves

SciPost Phys. 15, 059 (2023) · published 10 August 2023 | · pdf

We compute the integrands of five-, six-, and seven-point correlation functions of twenty-prime operators with general polarizations at the two-loop order in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. In addition, we compute the integrand of the five-point function at three-loop order. Using the operator product expansion, we extract the two-loop four-point function of one Konishi operator and three twenty-prime operators. Two methods were used for computing the integrands. The first method is based on constructing an ansatz, and then numerically fitting for the coefficients using the twistor-space reformulation of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. The second method is based on the OPE decomposition. Only very few correlator integrands for more than four points were known before. Our results can be used to test conjectures, and to make progresses on the integrability-based hexagonalization approach for correlation functions.
Exact physical quantities of a competing spin chain in the thermodynamic limit

Pengcheng Lu, Yi Qiao, Junpeng Cao, Wen-Li Yang

SciPost Phys. 15, 060 (2023) · published 10 August 2023 | · pdf

We study the exact physical quantities of a competing spin chain which contains many interesting and meaningful couplings including the nearest neighbor, next nearest neighbor, chiral three spins, Dzyloshinsky-Moriya interactions and unparallel boundary magnetic fields in the thermodynamic limit. We obtain the density of zero roots, surface energies and elementary excitations in different regimes of model parameters. Due to the competition of various interactions, the surface energy and excited spectrum show many different pictures from those of the Heisenberg spin chain.
Diagnosing weakly first-order phase transitions by coupling to order parameters

Jonathan D'Emidio, Alexander A. Eberharter, Andreas M. Läuchli

SciPost Phys. 15, 061 (2023) · published 14 August 2023 | · pdf

The hunt for exotic quantum phase transitions described by emergent fractionalized degrees of freedom coupled to gauge fields requires a precise determination of the fixed point structure from the field theoretical side, and an extreme sensitivity to weak first-order transitions from the numerical side. Addressing the latter, we revive the classic definition of the order parameter in the limit of a vanishing external field at the transition. We demonstrate that this widely understood, yet so far unused approach provides a diagnostic test for first-order versus continuous behavior that is distinctly more sensitive than current methods. We first apply it to the family of $Q$-state Potts models, where the nature of the transition is continuous for $Q\leq4$ and turns (weakly) first order for $Q>4$, using an infinite system matrix product state implementation. We then employ this new approach to address the unsettled question of deconfined quantum criticality in the $S=1/2$ Néel to valence bond solid transition in two dimensions, focusing on the square lattice $J$-$Q$ model. Our quantum Monte Carlo simulations reveal that both order parameters remain finite at the transition, directly confirming a first-order scenario with wide reaching implications in condensed matter and quantum field theory.
Automatic, high-order, and adaptive algorithms for Brillouin zone integration

Jason Kaye, Sophie Beck, Alex Barnett, Lorenzo Van Muñoz, Olivier Parcollet

SciPost Phys. 15, 062 (2023) · published 15 August 2023 | · pdf

We present efficient methods for Brillouin zone integration with a non-zero but possibly very small broadening factor $\eta$, focusing on cases in which downfolded Hamiltonians can be evaluated efficiently using Wannier interpolation. We describe robust, high-order accurate algorithms automating convergence to a user-specified error tolerance $\varepsilon$, emphasizing an efficient computational scaling with respect to $\eta$. After analyzing the standard equispaced integration method, applicable in the case of large broadening, we describe a simple iterated adaptive integration algorithm effective in the small $\eta$ regime. Its computational cost scales as $\mathcal{O}(\log^3(\eta^{-1}))$ as $\eta \to 0^+$ in three dimensions, as opposed to $\mathcal{O}(\eta^{-3})$ for equispaced integration. We argue that, by contrast, tree-based adaptive integration methods scale only as $\mathcal{O}(\log(\eta^{-1})/\eta^{2})$ for typical Brillouin zone integrals. In addition to its favorable scaling, the iterated adaptive algorithm is straightforward to implement, particularly for integration on the irreducible Brillouin zone, for which it avoids the tetrahedral meshes required for tree-based schemes. We illustrate the algorithms by calculating the spectral function of SrVO$_3$ with broadening on the meV scale.
2-group global symmetries, hydrodynamics and holography

Nabil Iqbal, Napat Poovuttikul

SciPost Phys. 15, 063 (2023) · published 16 August 2023 | · pdf

2-group global symmetries are a particular example of how higher-form and conventional global symmetries can fuse together into a larger structure. We construct a theory of hydrodynamics describing the finite-temperature realization of a 2-group global symmetry composed out of $U(1)$ zero-form and $U(1)$ one-form symmetries. We study aspects of the thermodynamics from a Euclidean partition function and derive constitutive relations for ideal hydrodynamics from various points of view. Novel features of the resulting theory include an analogue of the chiral magnetic effect and a chiral sound mode propagating along magnetic field lines. We also discuss a minimalist holographic description of a theory dual to 2-group global symmetry and verify predictions from hydrodynamic descriptions. Along the way we clarify some aspects of symmetry breaking in higher-form theories at finite temperature.
Quantum chaos in 2D gravity

Alexander Altland, Boris Post, Julian Sonner, Jeremy van der Heijden, Erik Verlinde

SciPost Phys. 15, 064 (2023) · published 16 August 2023 | · pdf

We present a quantitative and fully non-perturbative description of the ergodic phase of quantum chaos in the setting of two-dimensional gravity. To this end we describe the doubly non-perturbative completion of semiclassical 2D gravity in terms of its associated universe field theory. The guiding principle of our analysis is a flavor-matrix theory (fMT) description of the ergodic phase of holographic gravity, which exhibits $\mathrm{U}(n|n)$ causal symmetry breaking and restoration. JT gravity and its 2D-gravity cousins alone do not realize an action principle with causal symmetry, however we demonstrate that their universe field theory, the Kodaira-Spencer (KS) theory of gravity, does. After directly deriving the fMT from brane-antibrane correlators in KS theory, we show that causal symmetry breaking and restoration can be understood geometrically in terms of different (topological) D-brane vacua. We interpret our results in terms of an open-closed string duality between holomorphic Chern-Simons theory and its closed-string equivalent, the KS theory of gravity. Emphasis will be put on relating these geometric principles to the characteristic spectral correlations of the quantum ergodic phase.
Skyrmion jellyfish in driven chiral magnets

Nina del Ser, Vivek Lohani

SciPost Phys. 15, 065 (2023) · published 17 August 2023 | · pdf

Chiral magnets can host topological particles known as skyrmions which carry an exactly quantised topological charge $Q=-1$. In the presence of an oscillating magnetic field $B_1(t)$, a single skyrmion embedded in a ferromagnetic background will start to move with constant velocity v$_{trans}$. The mechanism behind this motion is similar to the one used by a jellyfish when it swims through water. We show that the skyrmion's motion is a universal phenomenon, arising in any magnetic system with translational modes. By projecting the equation of motion onto the skyrmion's translational modes and going to quadratic order in $B_1(t)$, we obtain an analytical expression for v$_{trans}$ as a function of the system's linear response. The linear response and consequently v$_{trans}$ are influenced by the skyrmion's internal modes and scattering states, as well as by the ferromagnetic background's Kittel mode. The direction and speed of v$_{trans}$ can be controlled by changing the polarisation, frequency and phase of the driving field $B_1(t)$. For systems with small Gilbert damping parameter $\alpha$, we identify two distinct physical mechanisms used by the skyrmion to move. At low driving frequencies, the skyrmion's motion is driven by friction, and $v_{trans}\sim\alpha$, whereas at higher frequencies above the ferromagnetic gap the skyrmion moves by magnon emission, and $v_{trans}$ becomes independent of $\alpha$.
Separability and entanglement of resonating valence-bond states

Gilles Parez, Clément Berthiere, William Witczak-Krempa

SciPost Phys. 15, 066 (2023) · published 21 August 2023 | · pdf

We investigate separability and entanglement of Rokhsar-Kivelson (RK) states and resonating valence-bond (RVB) states. These states play a prominent role in condensed matter physics, as they can describe quantum spin liquids and quantum critical states of matter, depending on their underlying lattices. For dimer RK states on arbitrary tileable graphs, we prove the exact separability of the reduced density matrix of $k$ disconnected subsystems, implying the absence of bipartite and multipartite entanglement between the subsystems. For more general RK states with local constraints, we argue separability in the thermodynamic limit, and show that any local RK state has zero logarithmic negativity, even if the density matrix is not exactly separable. In the case of adjacent subsystems, we find an exact expression for the logarithmic negativity in terms of partition functions of the underlying statistical model. For RVB states, we show separability for disconnected subsystems up to exponentially small terms in the distance $d$ between the subsystems, and that the logarithmic negativity is exponentially suppressed with $d$. We argue that separability does hold in the scaling limit, even for arbitrarily small ratio $d/L$, where $L$ is the characteristic size of the subsystems. Our results hold for arbitrary lattices, and encompass a large class of RK and RVB states, which include certain gapped quantum spin liquids and gapless quantum critical systems.
Constructing non-Abelian quantum spin liquids using combinatorial gauge symmetry

Dmitry Green, Claudio Chamon

SciPost Phys. 15, 067 (2023) · published 22 August 2023 | · pdf

We construct Hamiltonians with only 1- and 2-body interactions that exhibit an exact non-Abelian gauge symmetry (specifically, combinatiorial gauge symmetry). Our spin Hamiltonian realizes the quantum double associated to the group of quaternions. It contains only ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic $ZZ$ interactions, plus longitudinal and transverse fields, and therefore is an explicit example of a spin Hamiltonian with no sign problem that realizes a non-Abelian topological phase. In addition to the spin model, we propose a superconducting quantum circuit version with the same symmetry.
Bistability and nonequilibrium condensation in a driven-dissipative Josephson array: A c-field model

Matthew T. Reeves, Matthew J. Davis

SciPost Phys. 15, 068 (2023) · published 22 August 2023 | · pdf

Developing theoretical models for nonequilibrium quantum systems poses significant challenges. Here we develop and study a multimode model of a driven-dissipative Josephson junction chain of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, as realised in the experiment of Labouvie et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 235302 (2016)]. The model is based on c-field theory, a beyond-mean-field approach to Bose-Einstein condensates that incorporates fluctuations due to finite temperature and dissipation. We find the c-field model is capable of capturing all key features of the nonequilibrium phase diagram, including bistability and a critical slowing down in the lower branch of the bistable region. Our model is closely related to the so-called Lugiato-Lefever equation, and thus establishes new connections between nonequilibrium dynamics of ultracold atoms with nonlinear optics, exciton-polariton superfluids, and driven damped sine-Gordon systems.
Quasi-localized vibrational modes, boson peak and sound attenuation in model mass-spring networks

Shivam Mahajan, Massimo Pica Ciamarra

SciPost Phys. 15, 069 (2023) · published 23 August 2023 | · pdf

We introduce an algorithm that constructs disordered mass-spring networks whose elastic properties mimic that of glasses by tuning the fluctuations of the local elastic properties, keeping fixed connectivity and controlling the prestress. In two dimensions, the algorithm reproduces the dependence of glasses' vibrational properties, such as quasi-localised vibrational modes and Boson peak, on the degree of stability. The sound attenuation displays Rayleigh scattering and disorder-broadening regimes at different frequencies, and the attenuation rate decreases with increased stability. Our results establish a strong connection between the vibrational features of disordered solids and the fluctuations of the local elastic properties and provide a new approach to investigating glasses' vibrational anomalies.
Impurity Knight shift in quantum dot Josephson junctions

Luka Pavešić, Marta Pita Vidal, Arno Bargerbos, Rok Žitko

SciPost Phys. 15, 070 (2023) · published 24 August 2023 | · pdf

Spectroscopy of a Josephson junction device with an embedded quantum dot reveals the presence of a contribution to level splitting in external magnetic field that is proportional to $\cos\phi$, where $\phi$ is the gauge-invariant phase difference across the junction. To elucidate the origin of this unanticipated effect, we systematically study the Zeeman splitting of spinful subgap states in the superconducting Anderson impurity model. The magnitude of the splitting is renormalized by the exchange interaction between the local moment and the continuum of Bogoliubov quasiparticles in a variant of the Knight shift phenomenon. The leading term in the shift is linear in the hybridisation strength $\Gamma$ (quadratic in electron hopping), while the subleading term is quadratic in $\Gamma$ (quartic in electron hopping) and depends on $\phi$ due to spin-polarization-dependent corrections to the Josephson energy of the device. The amplitude of the $\phi$-dependent part is largest for experimentally relevant parameters beyond the perturbative regime where it is investigated using numerical renormalization group calculations. Such magnetic-field-tunable coupling between the quantum dot spin and the Josephson current could find wide use in superconducting spintronics.
A range three elliptic deformation of the Hubbard model

Marius de Leeuw, Chiara Paletta, Balázs Pozsgay

SciPost Phys. 15, 071 (2023) · published 28 August 2023 | · pdf

In this paper we present a new integrable deformation of the Hubbard model. Our deformation gives rise to a range 3 interaction term in the Hamiltonian which does not preserve spin or particle number. This is the first non-trivial medium range deformation of the Hubbard model that is integrable. Our model can be mapped to a new integrable nearest-neighbour model via a duality transformation. The resulting nearest-neighbour model also breaks spin conservation. We compute the $R$-matrices for our models, and find that there is a very unusual dependence on the spectral parameters in terms of the elliptic amplitude.
Slightly broken higher-spin current in bosonic and fermionic QED in the large-$N$ limit

Zheng Zhou, Yin-Chen He

SciPost Phys. 15, 072 (2023) · published 29 August 2023 | · pdf

We study the slightly broken higher-spin currents in various CFTs with U(1) gauge field, including the tricritical QED, scalar QED, fermionic QED and QED-Gross-Neveu-Yukawa theory. We calculate their anomalous dimension by making use of the classical non-conservation equation and the equations of motion. We find a logarithmic asymptotic behaviour ($\gamma_s\sim 16/(N\pi^2)$ log s ) of the anomalous dimension at large spin $s$, which is different from other interacting CFTs without gauge fields and may indicate certain unique features of gauge theories. We also study slightly broken higher-spin currents of the SU(N)$_1$ WZW model at $d=2+\epsilon$ dimensions by formulating them as the QED theory, and we again find its anomalous dimension has a logarithmic asymptotic behaviour with respect to spin. This result resolves the mystery regarding the mechanism of breaking higher spin currents of Virasoro symmetry at $d=2+\epsilon$ dimensions, and may be applicable to other interesting problems such as the $2+\epsilon$ expansion of Ising CFT.
Finite temperature spin diffusion in the Hubbard model in the strong coupling limit

Oleksandr Gamayun, Arthur Hutsalyuk, Balázs Pozsgay, Mikhail B. Zvonarev

SciPost Phys. 15, 073 (2023) · published 30 August 2023 | · pdf

We investigate finite temperature spin transport in one spatial dimension by considering the spin-spin correlation function of the Hubbard model in the limiting case of infinitely strong repulsion. We find that in the absence of a magnetic field the transport is diffusive, and derive the spin diffusion constant. Our approach is based on asymptotic analysis of a Fredholm determinant representation. The obtained results are in agreement with Generalized Hydrodynamics approach.
Functional flows for complex effective actions

Friederike Ihssen, Jan M. Pawlowski

SciPost Phys. 15, 074 (2023) · published 31 August 2023 | · pdf

In the present work we set up a general functional renormalisation group framework for the computation of complex effective actions. For explicit computations we consider both flows of the Wilsonian effective action and the one-particle irreducible (1PI) effective action. The latter is based on an appropriate definition of a Legendre transform for complex actions, and we show its validity by comparison to exact results in zero dimensions, as well as a comparison to results for the Wilsonian effective action. In the present implementations of the general approaches, the flow of the Wilsonian effective action has a wider range of applicability and we obtain results for the effective potential of complex fields in $\phi^4$-theories from zero up to four dimensions. These results are also compared with results from the 1PI effective action within its range of applicability. The complex effective action also allows us to determine the location of the Lee-Yang zeros for general parameter values. We also discuss the extension of the present results to general theories including QCD.
CFTs with $\mathbf{U(m)\times U(n)}$ global symmetry in 3D and the chiral phase transition of QCD

Stefanos R. Kousvos, Andreas Stergiou

SciPost Phys. 15, 075 (2023) · published 31 August 2023 | · pdf

Conformal field theories (CFTs) with $U(m)\times U(n)$ global symmetry in $d=3$ dimensions have been studied for years due to their potential relevance to the chiral phase transition of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). In this work such CFTs are analyzed in $d=4-\varepsilon$ and $d=3$. This includes perturbative computations in the $\varepsilon$ and large-$n$ expansions as well as non-perturbative ones with the numerical conformal bootstrap. New perturbative results are presented and a variety of non-perturbative bootstrap bounds are obtained in $d=3$. Various features of the bounds obtained for large values of $n$ disappear for low values of $n$ (keeping $m<n$ fixed), a phenomenon which is attributed to a transition of the corresponding fixed points to the non-unitary regime. Numerous bootstrap bounds are found that are saturated by large-$n$ results, even in the absence of any features in the bounds. A double scaling limit is also observed, for $m$ and $n$ large with $m/n$ fixed, both in perturbation theory as well as in the numerical bootstrap. For the case of two-flavor massless QCD existing bootstrap evidence is reproduced that the chiral phase transition may be second order, albeit associated to a universality class unrelated to the one usually discussed in the $\varepsilon$ expansion. Similar evidence is found for the case of three-flavor massless QCD, where we observe a pronounced kink.