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Monday 22 December

Quantum Physics

Reactive near-field subwavelength microwave imaging with a non-invasive Rydberg probe

Non-invasive microwave field imaging–accurately mapping field distributions without perturbing them–is essential in areas such as aerospace engineering, biomedical imaging and integrated-circuit diagnostics. Conventional metal probes, however, inevitably perturb reactive near fields: they act as strong scatterers that drive induced currents and secondary radiation, remap evanescent components and thereby degrade both accuracy and spatial resolution, particularly in the reactive near-field regime that is most relevant to these applications. Here we demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, reactive near-field subwavelength imaging of microwave fields using the quantum non-demolition properties of Rydberg atoms, realized with a compact, non-invasive single-ended fibre-integrated Rydberg probe engineered to minimize field disturbance. The probe achieves an imaging resolution of {\unboldmath$\lambda/56$}, and the measured field distributions agree with full-wave simulations with structural similarity approaching unity, confirming both its subwavelength spatial resolution and its genuinely non-invasive character compared with conventional metal-based probes. Because the atomic sensor is intrinsically isotropic, the same device can faithfully image multi-dimensional field structures without orientation-dependent calibration. Our results therefore establish a general, non-invasive route to high-accuracy, subwavelength reactive near-field microwave imaging, with particular promise for applications such as chip-defect detection and integrated-circuit diagnostics, where even small perturbations by the probe can mask the underlying physics of interest.
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All authors Chaoyang Hu, Mingyong Jing, Zongkai Liu, Shaoxin Yuan, Bin Wu, Yan Peng, Tingting Li, Wenguang Yang, Junyao Xie, Hao Zhang, Liantuan Xiao, Suotang Jia, Linjie Zhang

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from physics.optics

A fast, large-scale optimal transport algorithm for holographic beam shaping

Optimal transport methods have recently established state of the art accuracy and efficiency for holographic laser beam shaping. However, use of such methods is hindered by severe $\mathcal{O}(N^2)$ memory and $\mathcal{O}(N^2)$ time requirements for large scale input or output images with $N$ total pixels. Here we leverage the dual formulation of the optimal transport problem and the separable structure of the cost to implement algorithms with greatly reduced $\mathcal{O}(N)$ memory and $\mathcal{O}(N\log N)$ to $\mathcal{O}(N^{3/2})$ time complexity. These algorithms are parallelizable and can solve megapixel-scale beam shaping problems in tens of seconds on a CPU or seconds on a GPU.
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All authors Andrii Torchylo, Hunter Swan, Lucas Tellez, Jason M. Hogan

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Quantum sensing of high-frequency gravitational waves with ion crystals

A detection method for high-frequency gravitational waves using two-dimensional ion crystals is investigated. Gravitational waves can resonantly excite the drumhead modes of the ion crystal, particularly the parity-odd modes. In the optical dipole force protocol, entanglement between the drumhead modes and the collective spins transfers the excitation of the drumhead modes to the rotation of the total spin. Furthermore, gravitational wave detection beyond the standard quantum limit becomes possible as a squeezed spin state is generated through this entanglement. The sensitivity gets better with a larger ions crystals as well as a larger number of the ions. Future realization of large ion crystals can significantly improve the sensitivity to gravitational waves in the 10 kHz to 10 MHz region.
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All authors Asuka Ito, Ryuichiro Kitano, Wakutaka Nakano, Ryoto Takai

Quantum Physics

Critical reexamination of a recent challenge to Bohmian mechanics

We reanalyze a recent experiment by Sharoglazova et al. [Nature (London) 643, 67 (2025)] highlighting the role of the transient regime. We prove that in the evanescent state of the stationary regime their experimental data can be interpreted in terms of Bohmian quantum mechanics. At the same time, Bohm's quantum potential can be reinterpreted as a kinetic-energy term in the framework of Nelson's stochastic quantum mechanics, with a hidden-variable, nonclassical speed fitting the experimental data as well. The experiment can be interpreted as well within orthodox quantum mechanics and is therefore not conclusive in selecting or challenging any framework.
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Quantum Physics

Classical and Quantum Algorithms for Topological Invariants of Torus Bundles

Computing topological invariants of 3-manifolds is generally intractable, yet specialized algebraic structures can enable efficient algorithms. For Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev (WRT) invariants of torus bundles, we exploit the non-commutative torus structure to embed the skein algebra of the closed torus into its symmetric subalgebra at roots of unity. This yields a fixed $N^2$-dimensional representation that supports polynomial-time classical computation with $O(N^2)$ space, and a quantum algorithm using only $O(\log N)$ qubits – an exponential space advantage. We further prove that extracting individual expansion coefficients is #P-complete, yet there is a quantum algorithm that can efficiently approximate these coefficients for a non-negligible fraction of configurations.
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Quantum Physics

DeepQuantum: A PyTorch-based Software Platform for Quantum Machine Learning and Photonic Quantum Computing

We introduce DeepQuantum, an open-source, PyTorch-based software platform for quantum machine learning and photonic quantum computing. This AI-enhanced framework enables efficient design and execution of hybrid quantum-classical models and variational quantum algorithms on both CPUs and GPUs. For photonic quantum computing, DeepQuantum implements Fock, Gaussian, and Bosonic backends, catering to different simulation needs. To our knowledge, it is the first framework to realize closed-loop integration of three paradigms of quantum computing, namely quantum circuits, photonic quantum circuits, and measurement-based quantum computing, thereby enabling robust support for both specialized and universal photonic quantum algorithm design. Furthermore, DeepQuantum supports large-scale simulations based on tensor network techniques and a distributed parallel computing architecture. We demonstrate these capabilities through comprehensive benchmarks and illustrative examples. With its unique features, DeepQuantum is intended to be a powerful platform for both AI for Quantum and Quantum for AI.
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All authors Jun-Jie He, Ke-Ming Hu, Yu-Ze Zhu, Guan-Ju Yan, Shu-Yi Liang, Xiang Zhao, Ding Wang, Fei-Xiang Guo, Ze-Feng Lan, Xiao-Wen Shang, Zi-Ming Yin, Xin-Yang Jiang, Lin Yang, Hao Tang, Xian-Min Jin

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.stat-mech

Entropic trade-off relations in stochastic thermodynamics via replica Markov processes

Traditional thermodynamic trade-off relations usually apply to quantities that depend linearly on probability distributions. In contrast, many important information-theoretic measures, such as entropies, are nonlinear and therefore difficult to analyze with existing frameworks. Motivated by replica methods in quantum information and spin-glass theory, we introduce replica Markov processes, i.e., Markovian dynamics of $K$ independent, identical copies, and derive trade-off relations that bound relative moments of replica observables in terms of the dynamical activity. By choosing appropriate replica observables, these inequalities translate into bounds on nonlinear quantities of the original single process. Focusing on entropic measures of uncertainty, we obtain upper bounds on both the time derivative and the value of the Tsallis entropy for general trajectory-observable distributions. Moreover, we derive upper bounds on the Rényi and Tsallis entropies, where the bounds involve the initial dynamical activity. Analogous bounds can be derived for the entropies of the state distribution. In particular, we provide upper bounds on both the time derivative and the value of the Tsallis entropy of state distributions. Moreover, we show that the Rényi and Tsallis entropies of the state distribution are bounded from above by terms involving the local escape rate from the initial node. We also illustrate how replicas can be used to study other nonlinear functionals such as extreme-value observables. Finally, we extend the construction to continuously monitored open quantum systems, where the bounds are expressed in terms of the quantum dynamical activity. These results provide entropic counterparts to activity-based uncertainty relations and establish a general method for constraining nonlinear information-theoretic quantities in stochastic and quantum thermodynamics.
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Quantum Physics

Integrated Ring-based Quantum Key Distribution with Weak Measurement Enhanced Fiber-Optic Sensing Disturbance Magnitude and Location

The deep integration of quantum communication and fiber-optic sensing is pivotal for the development of next-generation multifunctional and highly reliable secure information infrastructure. Here, we present a Sagnac-loop integrated system (SLIS) that, for the first time, combines ring-based quantum key distribution (QKD) with fiber-based weak measurement (WM) enhanced sensing and disturbance localization capabilities. In the event of communication interruption due to external disturbances, the SLIS seamlessly switches to perception system, employing interference measurement and WM techniques to monitor channel disturbances. By integrating null-frequencies localization (NFL) mode, the system precisely determines the disturbance location, enabling rapid identification of security vulnerabilities along the link. Experimental results demonstrate that, over a 30 km Sagnac loop channel, the SLIS achieves a raw key generation rate of 22.4 kbps with stable operation and clear scalability toward network expansion. In terms of perception performance, the SLIS exhibits strong capability for both dynamic and quasi-static disturbances. For dynamic perturbations, the system detects transient impacts and PZT-driven frequency variations down to 100 Hz, and enables long-distance localization via NFL alignment, with improved localization performance as the disturbance position moves farther away along the loop. For quasi-static disturbances, gravitational changes as small as 100 g are resolved, corresponding to a time-delay variation of 9.81 as. This work provides a novel technical pathway toward self-diagnosing, robust quantum networks through integrated communication and sensing functionalities.
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All authors Weiqian Zhao, Wenzhao Huang, Zifu Su, Fangyuan Li, Qirong Jiang, Cheng Yuan, Yafei Yu, Jindong Wang

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from hep-th

Correlation functions of harmonic lattices in d-dimensional space

We study the correlation functions between the dynamical variables and between their conjugate momenta at sites of a harmonic lattice in the $d$-dimensional Euclidean space. We show that at the thermodynamic limit, they can be expressed in terms of Lauricella's C-type hypergeometric series. Furthermore, using these expressions, we explicitly demonstrate that the correlators near the center of the lattice satisfying Diriclet boundary conditions coincide with those for the lattice with the periodic boundary conditions. By utilizing these expressions, we expect to make it easier to create programs that compute fast and highly precise for the quantum information quantities of subsystems within lattices.
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All authors Masafumi Shimojo, Satoshi Ishihara, Hironobu Kataoka, Atsuko Matsukawa, Kazuo Koyama

Quantum Physics

Photonic variational quantum eigensolver for NISQ-compatible quantum technology

Quantum computers have the potential to deliver speed-ups for solving certain important problems that are intractable for classical counterparts, making them a promising avenue for advancing modern computation. However, many quantum algorithms require deep quantum circuits, which are challenging to implement on current noisy devices. To address this limitation, variational quantum algorithms (VQAs) have been actively developed, enabling practical quantum computing in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era. Among them, the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) stands out as a leading approach for solving problems in quantum chemistry, many-body physics, and even integer factorization. The VQE algorithm can be implemented on various quantum hardware platforms, including photonic systems, quantum dots, trapped ions, neutral atoms, and superconducting circuits. In particular, photonic platforms offer several advantages: they operate at room temperature, exhibit low decoherence, and support multiple degrees of freedom, making them suitable for scalable, high-dimensional quantum computation. Here we present methodologies for realizing VQE on photonic systems, highlighting their potential for practical quantum computing. We first provide a theoretical overview of the VQE framework, focusing on the procedure for variationally estimating ground state energies. We then explore how photonic systems can implement these processes, showing that a wide variety of problems can be addressed using either multiple qubit states or a single qudit state.
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Quantum Physics

Quantum correlations curvature, memory functions, and fundamental bounds

We investigate fundamental bounds on the curvature of quantum correlation functions in imaginary time. Focusing first on topological phases, we show that quantum geometry can qualitatively modify the imaginary-time decay of correlations, leading to nontrivial curvature behavior beyond simple exponential scaling. More generally, we show a universal bound on correlation curvature that holds for interacting systems in thermal equilibrium, and establish connection to leading invariants of the memory-function formalism. Our results identify imaginary-time curvature as a robust probe of intrinsic quantum timescales.
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Sunday 21 December

Quantum Physics

Interactions of pre- and postselected quantum particles

An approach for analysis of effective interaction between pre- and postselected quantum particles is developed. It is argued that the cases of complete pre- and postselection of particles are more profound than the cases of partial pre- and postselection, since the former goes beyond modification of the average of interactions on an ensemble of experiments. Recently discussed paradoxical phenomena such as the pigeonhole paradox and the modification of the interaction from repulsion to attraction are analyzed within the introduced formalism, and a few new surprising examples are presented.
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All authors Gregory Reznik, Jan Dziewior, Shrobona Bagchi, Lev Vaidman

Quantum Physics

Optical perspective on the time-dependent Dirac oscillator

The Dirac oscillator is a relativistic quantum system, characterized by its linearity in both position and momentum. Moreover, considering $(1{+}1)$ and $(2{+}1)$ dimensions, the system can be mapped onto the Jaynes-Cummings and anti-Jaynes-Cummings models, as illustrated in an exact manner by Bermudez et al. [\href{ https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.76.041801}{Phys. Rev. A 76, 041801(R) (2007)}]. Using the optical counterparts of the Dirac oscillator, we analyze an extension of the model that incorporates a time-dependent frequency. We focus on the consequences of these time modulations on the angular momentum observables and spin-orbit entanglement. Noticeable changes in the Zitterbewegung are found. We show that a specific choice of time dependence yields aperiodic evolution of the observables, whereas an alternative choice allows analytical solutions.
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All authors Thiago T. Tsutsui, Alison A. Silva, Antonio S. M. de Castro, Fabiano M. Andrade

Quantum Physics

Sufficient conditions for the Kadison–Schwarz property of unital positive maps on $M_3$

Kadison–Schwarz (KS) maps form a natural class of positive linear maps lying strictly between positivity and complete positivity. Despite their relevance in operator algebras and quantum dynamics, explicit analytic sufficient conditions for the KS property remain scarce beyond low-dimensional or highly symmetric settings. In this work we analyze unital positive linear maps on $M_3$ within the Bloch–Gell–Mann representation and derive explicit analytic sufficient conditions ensuring the Kadison–Schwarz property. The approach exploits unitary equivalence together with structural properties of the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{su}(3)$ and does not rely on numerical optimization or semidefinite-programming methods. A key mechanism is the cancellation of contributions associated with antisymmetric structure constants, which reduces the problem to estimates governed solely by the symmetric tensor $d_{ijk}$. The results clarify how the Kadison–Schwarz property can hold under assumptions substantially weaker than complete positivity and yield a structural criterion for the KS property on $M_3$ in terms of Bloch parameters.
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2512.18900 · 21 Dec · 1. The title has been reformulated. 3. The proof of the main theorem has been expanded and clarified. 4. Addition of an illustrative two-parameter diagonal family $T(t,s)$, highlighting the relation between positivity, the Kadison–Schwarz property, and complete positivity. 5. Reorganization and structural clarification of the Appendix

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from physics.ed-ph

Making Quantum Accessible: A Seven-Category Framework for K-12 Quantum Education

We conducted a literature review and expert interviews to determine the most common methods being used to teach quantum physics and quantum computing concepts to primary and secondary students. Based on the findings of this review, we provide a framework of seven categories of teaching approaches for teaching mathematically accessible quantum concepts; they are Defamiliarization, Quantum Picturalism, Spin-First Approach, Einstein-First Approach, Many Paths Approach, Historical Development Approach and Game-based Quantum Learning. We summarise each of these teaching methods and overview their advantages and disadvantages of each method. Our framework makes it easy for physics educators to embrace the diverse methods of teaching quantum physics and quantum computing at the primary and secondary level.
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All authors Rhea Fernandez, Sarah Hagstrom, Liesel Malanos, Lachlan McGinness, Madeline Mitchell, Saskia Schultz, Elizabeth Sexton

Quantum Physics

Structure-Preserving Optimal Control of Open Quantum Systems via a Discrete Contact PMP

We develop a discrete Pontryagin Maximum Principle (PMP) for controlled open quantum systems governed by Lindblad dynamics, and introduce a second–order contact Lie–group variational integrator (contact LGVI) that preserves both the CPTP (completely positive and trace–preserving) structure of the Lindblad flow and the contact geometry underlying the discrete PMP. A type–II discrete contact generating function produces a strict discrete contactomorphism under which the state, costate, and cost propagate in exact agreement with the variational structure of the discrete contact PMP. We apply this framework to the optimal control of a dissipative qubit and compare it with a non–geometric explicit RK2 discretization of the Lindblad equation. Although both schemes have the same formal order, the RK2 method accumulates geometric drift (loss of trace, positivity violations, and breakdown of the discrete contact form) that destabilizes PMP shooting iterations, especially under strong dissipation or long horizons. In contrast, the contact LGVI maintains exact CPTP structure and discrete contact geometry step by step, yielding stable, physically consistent, and geometrically faithful optimal control trajectories.
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Quantum Physics

Temporal nonclassicality in continuous-time quantum walks

We investigate the genuinely quantum features of continuous-time quantum walks by combining a single-time and a multi-time quantifier of nonclassicality. On the one hand, we consider the quantum-classical dynamical distance $D_{\mathrm{QC}}(t)$, which measures the departure of the time-evolved quantum state of a continuous-time quantum walk from the classical state of a random walk on the same graph. On the other, we analyse the joint probability distributions associated with sequential measurements of the walker's position, assessing their violation of the classical Kolmogorov consistency conditions via a dedicated quantifier $\bar{K}(t)$. We demonstrate a quadratic short-time scaling of $\bar{K}(t)$, which differs from the known linear scaling of $D_{\mathrm{QC}}(t)$, but, as the latter, is fully determined by the degree of the initially occupied node and is independent of the global graph topology. At longer times, instead, $\bar{K}(t)$ exhibits a pronounced topology-driven behavior: it is strongly suppressed on complete graphs while remaining finite and oscillatory on cycles, in contrast with the almost topology-independent asymptotics of $D_{\mathrm{QC}}(t)$. We then extend the analysis to Markovian open-system dynamics, focusing on dephasing in the position basis (Haken-Strobl model) and in the energy basis (intrinsic decoherence). Site dephasing drives both quantifiers to zero, with the decay of $\bar{K}(t)$ controlled by the spectral gap of the corresponding Lindblad generator. By contrast, energy-basis dephasing preserves a finite asymptotic value of $\bar{K}(t)$, depending on the overlap structure of the Laplacian eigenspaces with the site basis.
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Quantum Physics

Correlated Entropic Uncertainty as a Signature of Exceptional Points

Non-Hermitian physics has become a fundamental framework for understanding open systems where gain and loss play essential roles, with impact across photonics, quantum science, and condensed matter. While the role of complex eigenvalues is well established, the nature of the corresponding eigenfunctions has remained a long-standing problem. Here we show that it arises from a fundamental entropic uncertainty trade-off between phase entropy and its Fourier representation. This trade-off enforces a correlated behavior of phase and Fourier entropies near avoided crossings and exceptional points, precisely where the Petermann factor diverges and phase rigidity collapses. Our results establish biorthogonality is not as an anomaly but an intrinsic property of eigenfunctions, arising universal manifestation of uncertainty relation in non-Hermitian systems. Beyond resolving this foundational question, our framework provides a unifying and testable principle that advances the fundamentals of non-Hermitian physics and can be directly verified with existing interferometric techniques.
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Quantum Physics

El Agente Cuantico: Automating quantum simulations

Quantum simulation is central to understanding and designing quantum systems across physics and chemistry. Yet it has barriers to access from both computational complexity and computational perspectives, due to the exponential growth of Hilbert space and the complexity of modern software tools. Here we introduce{\cinzel El Agente Cuántico}, a multi-agent AI system that automates quantum-simulation workflows by translating natural-language scientific intent into executed and validated computations across heterogeneous quantum-software frameworks. By reasoning directly over library documentation and APIs, our agentic system dynamically assembles end-to-end simulations spanning state preparation, closed- and open-system dynamics, tensor-network methods, quantum control, quantum error correction, and quantum resource estimation. The developed system unifies traditionally distinct simulation paradigms behind a single natural-language interface. Beyond reducing technical barriers, this approach opens a path toward scalable, adaptive, and increasingly autonomous quantum simulation, enabling faster exploration of physical models, rapid hypothesis testing, and closer integration between theory, simulation, and emerging quantum hardware.
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All authors Ignacio Gustin, Luis Mantilla Calderón, Juan B. Pérez-Sánchez, Jérôme F. Gonthier, Yuma Nakamura, Karthik Panicker, Manav Ramprasad, Zijian Zhang, Yunheng Zou, Varinia Bernales, Alán Aspuru-Guzik

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.str-el

Dynamical Spectral Function of the Kagome Quantum Spin Liquid

Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) host exotic fractionalized magnetic and gauge-field excitations whose microscopic origins and experimental verification remain frustratingly elusive. In the absence of static magnetic order, the spin excitation spectrum constitutes the crucial probe of QSL behavior, but its theoretical computation is a serious challenge. Here we employ state-of-the-art tensor-network methods to obtain the full dynamical spectral function of the $J_1$-$J_2$ kagome Heisenberg model and benchmark our results by tracking their evolution across the magnetically ordered and QSL phases. Reducing $|J_2|/J_1$ causes increasingly strong spin-wave renormalization, flattening these modes then merging them into a continuum characteristic of deconfined spinons at all finite energies in the QSL. The low-energy continuum and the occurrence of gap closure at multiple high-symmetry points identify this gapless QSL as the U(1) Dirac spin liquid. These results establish a unified understanding of spin excitations in highly frustrated quantum magnets and provide clear spectral fingerprints for experimental detection in candidate kagome QSL materials.
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All authors Jiahang Hu, Runze Chi, Yibin Guo, B. Normand, Hai-Jun Liao, T. Xiang

Quantum Physics

Families of $k$-positive maps and Schmidt number witnesses from generalized equiangular measurements

Quantum entanglement is an important resource in many modern technologies, like quantum computation or quantum communication and information processing. Therefore, most interest is given to detect and quantify entangled states. Entanglement degree of bipartite mixed quantum states can be measured using the Schmidt number. Witnesses of the Schmidt number are closely related to $k$-positive linear maps, for which there is no general construction. Here, we use the generalized equiangular measurements to define a family of $k$-positive linear maps and the corresponding Schmidt number witnesses. We present examples of witnesses that detect two-parameter entangled states with Schmidt number $k+1$ in any dimension. Our approach allows for a more efficient entanglement quantification than other known Schmidt number witnesses constructed from symmetric measurement operators.
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Quantum Physics

Foundation Model for Unified Characterization of Optical Quantum States

Machine learning methods have been used to infer specific properties of limited families of optical quantum states, but a unified model that predicts a broad range of properties for practically relevant-especially multimode non-Gaussian-states without full tomography is still lacking. Here we introduce the first foundation model for the characterization of optical quantum states across a wide range of complexity, defined by three key factors: non-Gaussianity, number of modes, and degree of squeezing. We show that a single model pretrained on low-complexity states can be directly applied to characterize states of higher complexity. With limited fine-tuning, the model adapts to downstream tasks such as predicting quantum fidelity and Wigner negativity over a broad class of experimentally relevant states, including strongly non-Gaussian Schrödinger cat states, multimode systems with up to ten modes, and highly squeezed states with squeezing levels up to 10.4dB. Our results establish a unified framework for characterizing optical quantum states from limited measurement data, enabling efficient certification of quantum states relevant to optical quantum information computation, communication and metrology.
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All authors Xiaoting Gao, Yan Zhu, Feng-Xiao Sun, Ya-Dong Wu, Qiongyi He

Quantum Physics

Singularity Selector: Topological Chirality via Non-Abelian Loops around Exceptional Points

Chirality is more than a geometric curiosity; it governs measurable asymmetries across nature, from enantiomer-selective drugs and left-handed fermions in particle physics to handed charge transport in Weyl semimetals. We extend this universal concept to non-Hermitian systems by defining topological chirality, an invariant that emerges whenever an exceptional-points (EP) pair is present. Built from the non-commutative fundamental group and its braid representation, topological chirality acts as a singularity selector: clockwise EP loops occupy a homotopy class that avoids EPs, whereas counter-clockwise mirrors are equivalent only if they cross the EPs themselves. We confirm this binary rule in an optical microcavity and a non-Hermitian topological band. The same two-sheeted topology governs EP pairs in spin systems, photonic crystals and hybrid light-matter structures, where EP encirclements have already been demonstrated, so the framework transfers without alteration and confirms its experimental viability. Our findings lay the cornerstone for interpreting loop-sensitive observables such as spectral vorticity, the complex Berry phase and the non-Abelian holonomy. Finally, a gluing-of-planes construction extends the invariant to an n-sheeted surface hosting 2m EPs, unifying higher-order EP pairs.
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Quantum Physics

Noisy Monitored Quantum Circuits

Noisy monitored quantum circuits have emerged as a versatile and unifying framework connecting quantum many-body physics, quantum information, and quantum computation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in understanding the dynamics of such circuits, with an emphasis on their entanglement structure, information-protection capabilities, and noise-induced phase transitions. A central theme is the mapping to classical statistical models, which reveals how quantum noise reshapes dominant spin configurations. This framework elucidates universal scaling behaviors, including the characteristic $q^{-1/3}$ entanglement scaling with noise probability $q$ and distinct timescales for information protection. We further highlight a broad range of constructions and applications inspired by noisy monitored circuits, spanning variational quantum algorithms, classical simulation methods, mixed-state phases of matter, and emerging approaches to quantum error mitigation and quantum error correction. These developments collectively establish noisy monitored circuits as a powerful platform for probing and controlling quantum dynamics in realistic, decohering environments.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from hep-th

Entanglement Dynamics by (Non-)Unitary Local Operator Quenches in a 2D Holographic CFT

In this paper, we investigate the time evolution of entanglement entropy and mutual information for the spatially-infinite systems where we act with a primary operator on the vacuum state and then time-evolve it with the sequence of the Euclidean and Lorentzian time evolutions. Two-dimensional holographic conformal field theories describe the systems under consideration in this paper. The Euclidean time evolution is induced by the Rindler Hamiltonian and behaves as the regulator that tames the divergence induced by the local operator, while the Lorentzian one is induced by the uniform Hamiltonian. Under these time evolutions, we investigate the time ordering effect of the Rindler Euclidean and uniform Lorentzian time evolution operators. Consequently, we find the remarkable differences between those time evolutions are induced by whether those are unitary or non-unitary. Especially, we find that the unitary time evolution induces the late-time logarithmic growth of the entanglement entropy, while the non-unitary time evolution induces the late-time constant behavior. Furthermore, we investigate the dual gravity of the systems under consideration. Especially, we investigate the gravity duals of the systems with the insertion of the heavy primary operator and show that it is a black brane with a spacetime-dependent horizon.
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All authors Weibo Mao, Akihiro Miyata, Masahiro Nozaki, Farzad Omidi

Quantum Physics

Chaos-controlled switching between entanglement and coherence

Controlling entanglement and coherence is central to quantum information, yet the two resources often exhibit antagonistic trends and are difficult to optimize within a single platform. Here we show that chaos enables switchable eigenstate resources: avoided crossings in soft- versus strong- chaos windows selectively realize an entanglement-peak mode or a coherence-peak mode within the same system. Crucially, this chaos-controlled inversion is not tied to a particular notion of subsystems, appearing both in single-wave settings and in genuine many-body settings. From the quantum-chaos perspective, conventional diagnostics based on avoided-crossing phenomenology and eigenmode delocalization are insufficient; eigenfunction entanglement and basis coherence provide the missing discriminants. Using two wave-chaotic billiards and a tilted-field Ising chain, we track the information-theoretic response of eigenstates across localized hybridization windows. Even when avoided-crossing phenomenology and delocalization are comparable, the entanglement and coherence responses invert between soft- and strong-chaos regimes. In the Ising chain, a single microscopic knob, the global field tilt, toggles between the two operating modes and reveals a trade-off in which off-diagonal correlations grow as diagonal populations dip. Our diagnostics require only reduced states (or their spectra) and are compatible with mode imaging in wave-chaos resonators and randomized measurements in programmable spin simulators.
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Quantum Physics

Long-distance quantum communication sending single photons and keeping many

Fiber-based classical communication is all-optical and uses light pulses reamplified and reshaped every 50-100 km in classical repeaters. Most compatible with this would be a quantum communication system which is also all-optical with quantum processing units placed in similar intervals. However, existing all-optical quantum communication protocols either require complicated quantum error correction steps for logical-qubit recoveries at every few kilometers or, over larger quantum repeater segments, they would at least depend on sharing complex multi-photon entangled states. Here we propose an all-optical memory-based quantum repeater for long-distance quantum communication, with quantum memories at each repeater station realized in the form of fiber loops combined with suitable quantum error correction codes for photon-loss protection. By sending only single-photon states through the fibers connecting the stations, such repeaters can operate in the classical infrastructure's long-segment regime. We analyze the performance of our scheme for the Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill code, including a concatenation with the Steane code, as well as the single-photon quantum parity code for total distances up to 10000 km.
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Quantum Physics

Interplay of Confinement and Localization in a Programmable Rydberg Atom Chain

Analog quantum simulators promise access to complex many-body dynamics, yet their performance is ultimately set by how device imperfections compete with intrinsic physical mechanisms. Here we present an end-to-end study of correlation spreading in a programmable Rydberg-atom chain realizing a longitudinal-field transverse-field Ising model, focusing on the joint impact of confinement and effective disorder. Experiments performed on QuEra's Aquila quantum processor are benchmarked against large-scale coherent emulations using the Juelich Quantum Annealing Simulator (JUQAS), enabling the controlled inclusion of realistic hardware imperfections. In the ideal coherent limit, a tunable longitudinal field induces confinement of domain-wall excitations into mesonic bound states, leading to a progressive truncation of the correlation light cone. When experimentally relevant inhomogeneities and fluctuations are included, correlations instead saturate at finite distance even in the nominally deconfined regime, revealing localization driven by emergent disorder. The close quantitative agreement between noisy emulations and experimental data allows us to attribute the observed saturation to specific hardware error channels and to identify the dominant contribution. Our results establish a practical framework for diagnosing and modeling error-induced localization in Rydberg quantum processors, while demonstrating that confinement remains a robust and programmable mechanism for engineering non-ergodic dynamics on near-term quantum hardware.
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All authors Andrea B. Rava, Jhon A. Montanez-Barrera, Kristel Michielsen, Jaka Vodeb

Quantum Physics

A graphical framework for proving holographic entanglement entropy inequalities in multipartite systems

We present a graphical method for proving holographic entanglement entropy inequalities (HEIs) in general multipartite systems. By introducing a geometric representation of the entanglement structure, we develop a systematic approach that enables one to visualize and verify the validity of HEIs for any number of subsystems $n$. Several theorems are established to formalize this method, and explicit examples are provided for systems with $n = 4$ to $7$ entangled regions.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.dis-nn

Density of scattering resonances in a disordered system

Reflection of particles from a disordered or chaotic medium is characterized by a scattering matrix that can be represented as a superposition of resonances. Each resonance corresponds to an eigenstate inside the medium and has a width related to the decay time of this eigenstate. We develop a general approach to study the distribution function of these resonance widths based on the nonlinear sigma model. We derive an integral representation of the distribution function that works equally well for systems of any symmetry and for any type of coupling to the measuring device. From this integral representation we find explicit analytic expressions for the distribution function in the case of disordered metallic grains. We also compare the analytic results to large-scale numerical simulations and observe their perfect agreement.
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