Scientific Series

In this talk I will consider the S-matrix bootstrap of four dimensional scattering amplitudes with O(3) symmetry and no bound states and apply the formalism to pion physics. I will discuss the remarkable location where QCD seems to lie in the multi-dimensional space of zeros, scattering length and resonance mass values, based on various experimental and theoretical expectations.

Operator scrambling is a crucial ingredient of quantum chaos. Specifically, in the quantum chaotic system, a simple operator can become increasingly complicated under unitary time evolution. This can be diagnosed by various measures such as square of the commutator (out-of-time-ordered correlator), operator entanglement entropy etc. In this talk, we discuss operator dynamics in three representative models: a 2-local spin model with all-to-all interaction, a chaotic spin chain with long-range interactions,  and the quantum linear map. In the first two examples, we explore the operator dynamics by using the quantum Brownian circuit approach and transform the operator spreading into a classical stochastic problem. Although the speeds of scrambling are quite different, a simple operator can eventually approach a "highly entangled" operator with operator entanglement entropy taking a volume law value (close to the Page value). Meanwhile, the spectrum of the operator reduced density matrix develops a universal spectral correlation which can be characterized by the Wishart random matrix ensemble.  In contrast, in the third example (the quantum linear map), although the square of commutator can increase exponentially with time, a simple operator does not scramble but performs chaotic motion in the operator basis space determined by the classical linear map. We show that once we modify the quantum linear map such that operator can mix in the operator basis, the operator entanglement entropy can grow and eventually saturate to its Page value, thus making it a truly quantum chaotic model.

The gravitational waves from a binary inspiral carry unique information about the internal structure of compact objects. This information is of major interest for neutron stars, offering the possibility for advancing our understanding matter and fundamental interactions in unexplored regimes. I will discuss the imprints of an object’s internal structure, and in particular neutron star matter, on the gravitational waves generated during an inspiral, methods for analytically modeling these effects, and what we have learned from GW170817. I will also outline future prospects and challenges.

What does it mean for quantum state to be genuinely fully multipartite? Some would say, whenever the state cannot be decomposed as a mixture of states each of which has no entanglement across some partition. I'll argue that this partition-centric thinking is ill-suited for the task of assessing the connectivity of the network required to realize the state. I'll introduce a network-centric perspective for classifying multipartite entanglement, and it's natural device-independent counterpart, namely a network-centric perspective for classifying multipartite nonclassicality of correlations. Time permitting, we can then explore semidefinite programming (SDP) algorithms for convex optimization over k-partite-entangled states and k-partite-nonlocal correlations relative to the network-centric classification. Joint work with Denis Rosset and others. We will compare the new quantum-inflation techniques to the classical inflation of arXiv:1609.00672. I'll share a few results made possible by these SDPs, while being openly critical about some disappointing apparent limitations.

This year there appear several amazing experiments  in the graphene moire superlattices.  In this talk I will focus on the ABC trilayer graphene/h-BN system. Mott-like  insulators at 1/4 and 1/2 of the valence band have already been reported by Feng Wang’s group at Berkeley. The sample is dual gated on top and bottom with voltage V_t and V_b.  V_t+V_b controls the density of electrons. Interestingly we find that the displacement field D=V_t-V_b can control both the topology and the bandwidth of the valence band. For one sign of D (for example D>0), there are two narrow Chern bands with opposite Chern numbers C=3,-3 for the two valleys. For D<0, the bands of the two valleys are trivial and have localized Wannier orbitals on a triangular lattice.  As a result, the physics is governed by a spin-valley Hubbard model on a triangular lattice. This talk focuses on the D<0 side and  consists of two parts:  (1) I will provide the details of this spin-valley Hubbard model and discuss some subtleties special to the moire systems.   (2) In the second part I want to show some of our theoretical attempts on this Hubbard model. First I will show that this system is a perfect platform for studying metal-insulating transition. I will provide a theory of continuous Mott transition between a Fermi liquid and a spinon Fermi surface Mott insulator. Second I will discuss some possible metallic phases upon doping away from the Mott insulator.  Unlike the familiar spin 1/2 case, the spin-valley Hubbard model may not be in a conventional Fermi liquid phase even in the over-doped region. I will provide some candidates of possible unconventional metals based on a six-flavor slave boson theory for the hole doped side.

References:

Feng Wang et.al. arxiv: 1803.01985

Ya-Hui Zhang, Dan Mao, Yuan Cao, Pablo Jarillo-Herrero and T. Senthil.  arXiv:1805.08232

Ya-Hui Zhang and T. Senthil, arxiv: 1809.05110

Ya-Hui Zhang and T. Senthil, ongoing work

We consider implications of superrotations as an asymptotic symmetry of asymptotically flat spacetimes.  Beginning with a review of the rich structure of interconnections between soft theorems, asymptotic symmetries, and                 memory effects, we describe the superrotation iteration.  The subleading soft graviton theorem can be cast as a Ward identity for this asymptotic symmetry in 4D, and also as one for the stress tensor of a putative CFT2.  We detail the change of scattering basis motivated by this asymptotic symmetry and discuss recent progress.

In July 2018 the Planck Collaboration released its final set of cosmology results. I will discuss some of the  interesting new science that remains to be done with the CMB, including some not so often discussed topics such as the kinetic SZ effect and 21cm cross-correlations.

A 3d N=4 gauge theory admits two topological twists, which we'll simply call A and B. The two twists are exchanged by 3d mirror symmetry. It is known that local operators in the A (resp. B) twist include the Coulomb-branch (resp. Higgs-branch) chiral rings.  In this talk I will discuss the *line* operators preserved by the two twists, which in each case should have the structure of a braided tensor category.

Roughly speaking, one finds vortex lines in the A-twist and Wilson lines in the B-twist. I will propose a geometric identification of the corresponding categories, and explain how geometric calculations can be used to find the vector spaces of local operators at junctions of lines.

Combined with 3d mirror symmetry, this will lead to new dualities of braided tensor categories. [Joint work with N. Garner, M. Geracie, and J. Hilburn.]

We implement projective quantum Monte Carlo (PQMC) methods to simulate quantum annealing on classical computers. We show that in the regime where the systematic errors are well controlled, PQMC algorithms are capable of simulating the imaginary-time dynamics of the Schroedinger equation both on continuous space models and discrete basis systems. We also demonstrate that the tunneling time of the PQMC method is quadratically faster than the one of incoherent quantum annealing. It shows remarkable stability when applied to frustrated systems compared to finite-temperature path integral Monte Carlo algorithm, the method mostly chosen to do comparisons with quantum annealers. However, a major drawback of the PQMC method comes from the finite number of random walkers needed
to implement the simulations. It grows exponentially with the system size when no or poor guiding wave-functions are utilized. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that when good enough guiding wave-functions are used – in our case we choose artificial neural networks – the computational complexity seems to go from exponential to polynomial in the system size. We advocate for a search of more efficient guiding wave functions since they could determine when PQMC simulations are feasible on classical computers, a question closely related to a provable need or speed-up of a quantum computer.

References:
- E. M. Inack and S. Pilati, Phys. Rev. E 92, 053304 (2015)
- E. M. Inack, G. Giudici, T. Parolini, G. Santoro and S. Pilati, Phys. Rev. A 97, 032307 (2018)
- E. M. Inack, G. Santoro, L. Dell’Anna, and S. Pilati, arXiv:1809.03562v1

Among the many candidates proposed to explain the nature of Dark Matter, WIMPs have been the most supported in the last decades, because of their success in a natural explanation of the current Dark Matter abundance and their ubiquitous presence in models addressing the hierarchy problem.
Other candidates that have been attracting some attention recently are Primordial Black Holes, which would have formed in the early history of the universe.
In my talk I will touch on both frameworks for the explanation of Dark Matter.
As for WIMP candidates, I will discuss the interplay between their experimental searches and theoretical frameworks. On the side of Effective Field Theories, I propose a method to use them consistently for the recast of collider searches. On the side of simplified models, in the presence of apparent gauge anomalies at low energies I highlight the enhanced reach of indirect searches.
In the last part I will illustrate a model for the generation of PBHs relying on a feature already present in the Standard Model, the metastability of the Higgs vacuum. Another signature of this remarkable property of the SM could be the generation of a background of gravitational waves.
The observation of either of these signatures would represent a spectacular confirmation of the metastability of the Higgs vacuum.

We  find an  approximation of  the induced spatial distance on a Cauchy hypersurface using only the causal structure and local volume element. The approximation can be made arbitrarily precise for a globally hyperbolic spacetime with compact Cauchy hypersurfaces. This prescription has a discrete analog which we use to evaluate the induced spatial distance in a continuum-like causal set.  As expected, because of  discrete asymptotic silence, this gives a poor approximation to the continuum distance in the "UV".  For larger distances, on the other hand, the approximation works very well, as long as the discreteness scale is significantly smaller than the extrinsic and intrinsic curvature scale of the spatial hypersurface. This paves the way for obtaining detailed spatial geometric information from the causal structure, which has implications for the continuum approximation of causal set theory.