Physics

Over the last decade, there have been many Perimeter efforts in the realm of EDI, and they have unquestionably enhanced the Institute’s culture. Paradoxically, some of these efforts have illuminated areas where we can do more, and there are still others to be addressed.  

In Perimeter’s short life, we’ve built a unique institution, with a culture characterized by intellectual fearlessness and excellence. Yet we can do even better. Our culture is connected to our research. We’re here to make breakthroughs in our understanding of our universe – and breakthroughs are made by thinking in new ways. We can’t afford to leave any great thinkers, or any great ideas, behind.  

In 2020, we embarked on a project to develop a coherent, concrete strategic plan to guide Perimeter’s efforts in EDI, in partnership with experts at Shift Health and the Laurier Centre for Women in Science. All members of the Perimeter community have been consulted to ensure that the final strategy is reflective of our whole community.  

Our actions to date are a step in an intentional and comprehensive effort to make Perimeter an institute where everyone can thrive and find a sense of belonging. 

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93399374837?pwd=QlBTSnluRk84L2x0eE0zYXlGQ0JFZz09

Variational methods have proven to be excellent tools to approximate the ground states of complex many-body Hamiltonians. Generic tools such as neural networks are extremely powerful, but their parameters are not necessarily physically motivated. Thus, an efficient parametrization of the wave function can become challenging. In this talk I will introduce a neural-network-based variational ansatz that retains the flexibility of these generic methods while allowing for a tunability with respect to the relevant correlations governing the physics of the system. I will illustrate the ansatz on a model exhibiting topological phase transitions: The toric code in the presence of magnetic fields. Additionally, I will talk about the use of variational wave functions to gain physical insights beyond lattice models, in particular for the real use-case of two-dimensional materials.

The elementary CuO2 plane sustaining cuprate high temperature superconductivity occurs typically at the base of a periodic array of edge-sharing CuO5 pyramids. Virtual transitions of electrons between adjacent planar Cu and O atoms, occurring at a rate t/ℏ and across the charge-transfer energy gap E, generate ‘superexchange’ spin-spin interactions of energy J≈4t4/E3 in an antiferromagnetic correlated-insulator state. However, hole doping this CuO2 plane converts this into a very high temperature superconducting state whose electron-pairing is exceptional. A leading proposal for the mechanism of this intense electron-pairing is that, while hole doping destroys magnetic order it preserves pair-forming superexchange interactions governed by the charge-transfer energy scale E.

To explore this hypothesis directly at atomic-scale, we developed high-voltage single-electron and electron-pair (Josephson) scanning tunneling microscopy, to visualize the interplay of E and the electron-pair density nP in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x. Changing the distance δ between each pyramid’s apical O atom and the CuO2 plane below, should alter the energy levels of the planar Cu and O orbitals and thus vary E.  Hence, the responses of both E and nP to alterations in δ that occur naturally in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x were visualized. These data revealed, directly at atomic scale, the crux of strongly correlated superconductivity in CuO2: the response of the electron-pair condensate to varying the charge transfer energy. Strong concurrence between these observations and recent three-band Hubbard model DMFT predictions for superconductivity in hole-doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (PNAS 118, e2106476118 (2021)) indicate that charge-transfer superexchange is the electron-pairing mechanism (PNAS 119, 2207449119 (2022)).

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/95592484157?pwd=YU56Wno3WnBIUTlyaC9VSHJ3cGxZUT09

The AdS/CFT correspondence (Anti-de Sitter gravity/ conformal field theory correspondence), also referred to as holography, provides the first example of a duality relating a gravity theory to a quantum field theory without gravity. The gravity theory involved describes the hyperbolic bulk spacetime and the quantum field theory its boundary. This duality has its origin within string theory. Recent developments based on both quantum information theory and the physics of black holes raise the question if dualities of this type exist more generally, even beyond string theory. As a specific example, I will describe recent progress towards establishing a duality based on a discretisation of hyperbolic Anti-de Sitter space that is obtained by a regular tiling with polygons. I will explain how to obtain a dual Hamiltonian on the boundary that reflects properties of the bulk tiling, and describe its properties. This research direction is related to recent developments in mathematics, quantum information, condensed matter physics and electrical engineering, making it truly interdisciplinary. I will  conclude by giving an outlook on the next steps to be followed in view of obtaining a full discrete duality.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/95553458965?pwd=bHZIamd3Q1BNRjBhZGk5Y1BPK0d6QT09

It has been argued astronomy and astrophysics as a research field developed with the first telescope.  At the same time that Galileo observed the phases of Venus and the moons of Jupiter, European Powers will colonizing the Americas and other parts of the world.  This began a relationship between astronomy and colonization that continues today in terms of astronomers and nations building giant telescopes on Indigenous lands.  In the future as private actors develop a new space industry we will see the export of this colonialism to Space, to the Moon and one day even to Mars. We are already seeing this today with the development of satellite constellations, some of which are visible by the unaided eye and with the multinational Artemis Accords for lunar exploration.  In this talk I will review the relation between astronomy and colonization in the past, present, and future; and I will discuss steps educators and astronomers can take to address this in the classroom and how the field of astronomy and space exploration can be inclusive of Indigenous rights and voices.

Zoom link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/95620288526?pwd=dW9ReW5FUVp3TWFmUVUxZjV5VFhNdz09

Quantum mechanics is a cornerstone of modern physics. Just as the 19th century was called the Machine Age and the 20th century the Information Age, the 21st century promises to go down in history as the Quantum Age. Quantum Computing promises unprecedented speed in solving certain classes of problems while Quantum Cryptography promises unconditional security in communications. In this talk, I will discuss the world of single and entangled photons and also discuss ongoing work towards quantum computing, quantum information and quantum cryptography in our Quantum Information and Computing lab at the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru. I will end with our broad vision for the future, which includes establishment of long distance secure quantum communications in India and beyond involving satellite based, fibre based as well as integrated photonics based approaches towards the global quantum internet.

Zoom Link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/94788493307?pwd=QTlUaTY4Nm1IS3hyeUFIbVFKV3RMQT09