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Wednesday 31 December

Quantum Physics

Quadratic Continuous Quantum Optimization

Quantum annealers can solve QUBO problems efficiently but struggle with continuous optimization tasks like regression due to their discrete nature. We introduce Quadratic Continuous Quantum Optimization (QCQO), an anytime algorithm that approximates solutions to unconstrained quadratic programs via a sequence of QUBO instances. Rather than encoding real variables as binary vectors, QCQO implicitly represents them using continuous QUBO weights and iteratively refines the solution by summing sampled vectors. This allows flexible control over the number of binary variables and adapts well to hardware constraints. We prove convergence properties, introduce a step size adaptation scheme, and validate the method on linear regression. Experiments with simulated and real quantum annealers show that QCQO achieves accurate results with fewer qubits, though convergence slows on noisy hardware. Our approach enables quantum annealing to address a wider class of continuous problems.
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Quantum Physics

Easier randomizing gates provide more accurate fidelity estimation

Accurate benchmarking of quantum gates is crucial for understanding and enhancing the performance of quantum hardware. A standard method for this is interleaved benchmarking, a technique which estimates the error on an interleaved target gate by comparing cumulative error rates of randomized sequences implemented with the interleaved gate and without it. In this work, we show both numerically and experimentally that the standard approach of interleaved randomized benchmarking (IRB), which uses the multi-qubit Clifford group for randomization, can produce highly inaccurate and even physically impossible estimates for the error on the interleaved gate in the presence of coherent errors. Fortunately we also show that interleaved benchmarking performed with cycle benchmarking, which randomizes with single qubit Pauli gates, provides dramatically reduced systematic uncertainty relative to standard IRB, and further provides as host of additional benefits including data reusability. We support our conclusions with a theoretical framework for bounding systematic errors, extensive numerical results comparing a range of interleaved protocols under fixed resource costs, and experimental demonstrations on three quantum computing platforms.
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All authors Debankan Sannamoth, Kristine Boone, Arnaud Carignan-Dugas, Akel Hashim, Irfan Siddiqi, Karl Mayer, Joseph Emerson

Quantum Physics

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution network based on entangled states of optical frequency combs

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) features a high key rate and compatibility with classical optical communication. Developing expandable and efficient CVQKD networks will promote the deployment of large-scale quantum communication networks in the future. This paper proposes a CVQKD network based on the entangled states of an optical frequency comb. This scheme generates Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entangled states with a frequency comb structure through the process of a type-II optical parametric oscillator. By combining with the scheme of entanglement in the middle, a fully connected CVQKD network capable of distributing secret keys simultaneously can be formed. We analyze the security of the system in the asymptotic case. Simulation results show that under commendable controlling of system loss and noise, the proposed scheme is feasible for deploying a short-distance fully connected CVQKD network. Loss will be the main factor limiting the system's performance. The proposed scheme provides new ideas for a multi-user fully connected CVQKD network.
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All authors Hai Zhong, Qianqian Hu, Zhiyue Zuo, Zhipeng Wang, Duan Huang, Ying Guo

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

Fragile Topological Phases and Topological Order of 2D Crystalline Chern Insulators

We apply methods of equivariant homotopy theory, which may not previously have found due attention in condensed matter physics, to classify first the fragile/unstable topological phases of 2D crystalline Chern insulator materials, and second the possible topological order of their fractional cousins. We highlight that the phases are given by the equivariant 2-Cohomotopy of the Brillouin torus of crystal momenta (with respect to wallpaper point group actions) – which, despite the attention devoted to crystalline Chern insulators, seems not to have been considered before. Arguing then that any topological order must be reflected in the adiabatic monodromy of gapped quantum ground states over the covariantized space of these band topologies, we compute the latter in examples where this group is non-abelian, showing that any potential FQAH anyons must be localized in momentum space. We close with an outlook on the relevance for the search for topological quantum computing hardware. Mathematical details are spelled out in a supplement.
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Quantum Physics

Interfacing Atomic Spins with Photons for Quantum Metrology, Simulation and Computation

These lecture notes discuss applications of atom-light interactions in cavities to quantum metrology, simulation, and computation. A focus is on nonlocally interacting spin systems realized by coupling many atoms to a delocalized mode of light. We will build up from the fundamentals: understanding how a cavity enables light to coherently imprint information on atoms and atoms to imprint information on the light, enabling quantum non-demolition measurements that constitute a powerful means of engineering nonclassical states. By extension, letting the intracavity light act back on the atoms enables coherent photon-mediated interactions. I start by discussing collective spin models, emphasizing applications in entanglement-enhanced metrology, before proceeding to richer many-body physics enabled by incorporating spatiotemporal control or employing multiple cavity modes. I will highlight opportunities for leveraging these tools for quantum simulations inspired by problems in condensed matter and quantum gravity. Along the way, I provide a pedagogical introduction to criteria for strong atom-light coupling, illustrate how the corresponding figure of merit – the cooperativity – sets fundamental limits on the coherence of atom-light interactions, and discuss prospects for harnessing high-cooperativity cavity QED in quantum simulation and computation.
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Quantum Physics

Quantum Visual Word Sense Disambiguation: Unraveling Ambiguities Through Quantum Inference Model

Visual word sense disambiguation focuses on polysemous words, where candidate images can be easily confused. Traditional methods use classical probability to calculate the likelihood of an image matching each gloss of the target word, summing these to form a posterior probability. However, due to the challenge of semantic uncertainty, glosses from different sources inevitably carry semantic biases, which can lead to biased disambiguation results. Inspired by quantum superposition in modeling uncertainty, this paper proposes a Quantum Inference Model for Unsupervised Visual Word Sense Disambiguation (Q-VWSD). It encodes multiple glosses of the target word into a superposition state to mitigate semantic biases. Then, the quantum circuit is executed, and the results are observed. By formalizing our method, we find that Q-VWSD is a quantum generalization of the method based on classical probability. Building on this, we further designed a heuristic version of Q-VWSD that can run more efficiently on classical computing. The experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms state-of-the-art classical methods, particularly by effectively leveraging non-specialized glosses from large language models, which further enhances performance. Our approach showcases the potential of quantum machine learning in practical applications and provides a case for leveraging quantum modeling advantages on classical computers while quantum hardware remains immature.
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Quantum Physics

A fast and exact approach for stabilizer Rényi entropy via the XOR-FWHT algorithm

Quantum advantage is widely understood to rely on key quantum resources beyond entanglement, among which nonstabilizerness (quantum “magic”) plays a central role in enabling universal quantum computation. However, the exact evaluation of the second-order stabilizer Rényi entropy for generic many-body quantum states remains computationally challenging, with brute-force methods scaling as $\mathcal O(8^N)$ for an $N$-qubit state. Here we develop a deterministic and exact algorithm that reduces this cost to $\mathcal{O}(N4^N)$ while retaining natural parallelism. This advance enables high-precision exact calculations for generic state vectors at medium system sizes, and provides a practical tool for investigating the scaling, phase structure, and nonequilibrium dynamics of quantum magic in many-body systems.
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All authors Xuyang Huang, Han-Ze Li, Ching Hua Lee, Jian-Xin Zhong

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from math-ph

Collective behaviors of an electron gas in the mean-field regime

In this paper, we study the momentum distribution of an electron gas in a $3$-dimensional torus. The goal is to compute the occupation number of Fourier modes for some trial state obtained through random phase approximation. We obtain the mean-field analogue of momentum distribution formulas for electron gas in [Daniel and Voskov, Phys. Rev. 120, (1960)] in high density limit and [Lam, Phys. Rev. 3, (1971)] at metallic density. The analysis in the present paper is majorly based on the work [Christiansen, Hainzl, Nam, Comm. Math. Phys. 401, (2023)]. Our findings are related to recent results obtained independently by Benedikter, Lill and Naidu, and the analysis applies to a general class of singular potentials rather than just the Coulomb case.
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Quantum Physics

Hall's exact variance decomposition in Bohmian Mechanics

Halls exact variance decomposition [Phys. Rev. A 64, 052103 (2001)] splits the quantum variance of an observable into the ensemble variance of an optimal position based estimate and a residual nonclassical inaccuracy. We evaluate this decomposition in Bohmian mechanics. For momentum, the optimal estimate coincides with the Bohmian guidance field, and the inaccuracy is proportional to the ensemble average of the quantum potential. This gives a variance level identity separating momentum fluctuations into classical statistical dispersion and a quantum contribution from amplitude variations. The real and imaginary parts of the weak value map directly onto the two decomposition terms. By contrast, the inaccuracy vanishes for spin. This distinction is traced to the kinematic status of velocity in the primitive ontology, showing how the decomposition distinguishes observables dynamically coupled to local beables from merely contextual ones.
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Quantum Physics

Volcano Architecture for Scalable Quantum Processor Units

Quantum information processing platforms based on array of matter qubits, such as neutral atoms, trapped ions, and quantum dots, face significant challenges in scalable addressing and readout as system sizes increase. Here, we propose the "Volcano" architecture that establishes a new quantum processing unit implementation method based on optical channel mapping on a arbitrarily arranged static qubit array. To support the feasibility of Volcano architecture, we show a proof-of-principle demonstration by employing a photonic chip that leverages custom-designed three-dimensional waveguide structures to transform one-dimensional beam arrays into arbitrary two-dimensional output patterns matching qubit array geometries. We demonstrate parallel and independent control of 49-channel with negligible crosstalk and high uniformity. This architecture addresses the challenges in scaling up quantum processors, including both the classical link for parallel qubit control and the quantum link for efficient photon collection, and holds the potential for interfacing with neutral atom arrays and trapped ion crystals, as well as networking of heterogeneous quantum systems.
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All authors Dong-Qi Ma, Qing-Xuan Jie, Ya-Dong Hu, Wen-Yi Zhu, Yi-Chen Zhang, Hong-Jie Fan, Xiao-Kang Zhong, Guang-Jie Chen, Yan-Lei Zhang, Tian-Yang Zhang, Xi-Feng Ren, Liang Chen, Zhu-Bo Wang, Guang-Can Guo, Chang-Ling Zou

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from math.SP

Arithmetic spectral transition for the unitary almost Mathieu operator

We study the unitary almost Mathieu operator (UAMO), a one-dimensional quasi-periodic unitary operator arising from a two-dimensional discrete-time quantum walk on $\mathbb Z^2$ in a homogeneous magnetic field. In the positive Lyapunov exponent regime $0\le \lambda_1<\lambda_2\le 1$, we establish an arithmetic localization statement governed by the frequency exponent $\beta(\omega)$. More precisely, for every irrational $\omega$ with $\beta(\omega)<L$, where $L>0$ denotes the Lyapunov exponent, and every non-resonant phase $\theta$, we prove Anderson localization, i.e. pure point spectrum with exponentially decaying eigenfunctions. This extends our previous arithmetic localization result for Diophantine frequencies (for which $\beta(\omega)=0$) to a sharp threshold in frequency.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.other

Dynamical Phase Transitions in Periodically Driving 1D Ising Model

This work investigates dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs) in a one-dimensional Ising model subjected to a periodically modulated transverse field. In contrast to sudden quenches, we demonstrate that a DQPT can be induced in two distinct ways. First, when the system remains within a given phase–ferromagnetic (FM) or paramagnetic (PM), a resonant periodic drive can trigger a DQPTs when its frequency matches the energy-level transition of the system. This DQPT is intimately connected to the emergence of Floquet topological phases. The timescale for the transition is governed by the perturbation strength $\lambda'$, the critical mode $k_c$, and its energy gap $\Delta_{k_c}$, following the scaling relation $\tau\propto\Delta_{k_c}\lambda'^{-1}\csc k_c$. Second, for drives across the critical point between the FM and PM phases, low frequencies can always induce DQPT, regardless of resonance. This behavior stems from the degeneracy of the energy-level at the critical point, which ensures that any drive with a frequency lower than the system's intrinsic transition frequency will inevitably excite the system. However, in the high-frequency regime, such excitation will be strongly suppressed, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of DQPTs. This study provides deeper insight into the nonequilibrium dynamics of quantum spin chains.
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All authors Yuanyuan Cheng, Yuxia Zhang, Tianhui Qiu, Peipei Xin, Bao-Ming Xu

Quantum Physics

Band Structure and Dynamics of Single Photons in Atomic Lattices

We present a framework to investigate the collective properties of atomic lattices in one, two, and three dimensions. We analyze the single-photon band structure and associated atomic decay rates, revealing a fundamental dependence on dimensionality. One- and two-dimensional arrays are shown to be inherently radiative, exhibiting band gaps and decay rates that oscillate between superradiant and subradiant regimes, as a function of lattice spacing. In contrast, three-dimensional lattices are found to be fundamentally non-radiative due to the inhibition of spontaneous emission, with decay only at discrete Bragg resonances. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this structural difference dictates the system dynamics, which crosses over from dissipative decay in lower dimensions to coherent transport in three dimensions. Our results provide insight into cooperative effects in atomic arrays at the single-photon level.
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Quantum Physics

Hidden rotation symmetry of the Jordan-Wigner transformation and its application to measurement in quantum computation

Using a global rotation by theta about the z-axis in the spin sector of the Jordan-Wigner transformation rotates Pauli matrices X and Y in the x-y-plane, while it adds a global complex phase to fermionic quantum states that have a fixed number of particles. With the right choice of angles, this relates expectation values of Pauli strings containing products of X and Y to different products, which can be employed to reduce the number of measurements needed when simulating fermionic systems on a quantum computer. Here, we derive this symmetry and show how it can be applied to systems in Physics and Chemistry that involve Hamiltonians with only single-particle (hopping) and two-particle (interaction) terms. We also discuss the consequences of this for finding efficient measurement circuits in variational ground state preparation.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Matter with apparent and hidden spin physics

Materials with interesting physical properties are often designed based on our understanding of the target physical effects. The physical properties can be either explicitly observed ("apparent") or concealed by the perceived symmetry ("hidden") but still exist. Both are enabled by specific symmetries and induced by certain physical interactions. Using the underlying approach of condensed matter theory of real materials (rather than schematic model Hamiltonians), we discuss apparent and hidden physics in real materials focusing on the properties of spin splitting and spin polarization. Depending on the enabling symmetries and underlying physical interactions, we classify spin effects into four categories with each having two subtypes; representative materials are pointed out. We then discuss the electric tunability and switch of apparent and hidden spin splitting and polarization in antiferromagnets. Finally, we extend "hidden effects" to views that are farsighted in the sense of resolving the correct atomistic and reciprocal symmetry and replaced by the incorrect higher symmetry. This framework could guide and enable systematic discovery of such intriguing effects.
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All authors Jia-Xin Xiong, Xiuwen Zhang, Lin-Ding Yuan, Alex Zunger

Quantum Physics

QAOA-MaxCut has barren plateaus for almost all graphs

The QAOA has been the subject of intense study over recent years, yet the corresponding Dynamical Lie Algebra (DLA)–a key indicator of the expressivity and trainability of VQAs–remains poorly understood beyond highly symmetric instances. An exponentially scaling DLA dimension is associated with the presence of so-called barren plateaus (BP) in the optimization landscape, which renders training intractable. In this work, we investigate the DLA of QAOA applied to the canonical MaxCut, for both weighted and unweighted graphs. For weighted graphs, we show that when the weights are drawn from a continuous distribution, the DLA dimension grows as $\Theta(4^n)$ almost surely for all connected graphs except paths and cycles. In the more common unweighted setting, we show that asymptotically all but an exponentially vanishing fraction of graphs have $\Theta(4^n)$ large DLA dimension. The entire simple Lie algebra decomposition of the corresponding DLAs is also identified, from which we prove that the variance of the loss function is $O(1/2^n)$, implying that QAOA on these weighted and unweighted graphs all suffers from BP. Moreover, we give explicit constructions for families of graphs whose DLAs have exponential dimension, including cases whose MaxCut is in $\mathsf P$. Our proof of the unweighted case is based on a number of splitting lemmas and DLA-freeness conditions that allow one to convert prohibitively complicated Lie algebraic problems into amenable graph theoretic problems. These form the basis for a new algorithm that computes such DLAs orders of magnitude faster than previous methods, reducing runtimes from days to seconds on standard hardware. We apply this algorithm to MQLib, a classical MaxCut benchmark suite covering over 3,500 instances with up to 53,130 vertices, and find that, ignoring edge weights, at least 75% of the instances possess a DLA of dimension at least $2^{128}$.
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All authors Rui Mao, Pei Yuan, Jonathan Allcock, Shengyu Zhang

Quantum Physics

Probabilistic Computers for Neural Quantum States

Neural quantum states efficiently represent many-body wavefunctions with neural networks, but the cost of Monte Carlo sampling limits their scaling to large system sizes. Here we address this challenge by combining sparse Boltzmann machine architectures with probabilistic computing hardware. We implement a probabilistic computer on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and use it as a fast sampler for energy-based neural quantum states. For the two-dimensional transverse-field Ising model at criticality, we obtain accurate ground-state energies for lattices up to 80$\times$80 (6400 spins) using a custom multi-FPGA cluster. Furthermore, we introduce a dual-sampling algorithm to train deep Boltzmann machines, replacing intractable marginalization with conditional sampling over auxiliary layers. This enables the training of sparse deep models and improves parameter efficiency relative to shallow networks. We further implement this algorithm on a single FPGA, demonstrating the training of deep Boltzmann machines for systems as large as $30 \times 30$ (900 spins). Together, these results demonstrate that probabilistic hardware can overcome the sampling bottleneck in variational simulation of quantum many-body systems, opening a path to larger system sizes and deeper variational architectures.
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All authors Shuvro Chowdhury, Jasper Pieterse, Navid Anjum Aadit, Shaila Niazi, Johan H. Mentink, Kerem Y. Camsari

Quantum Physics

TLS-induced thermal nonlinearity in a micro-mechanical resonator

We present experimental evidence of a thermally-driven amplitude-frequency nonlinearity in a thin-film quartz phononic crystal resonator at millikelvin temperatures. The nonlinear response arises from the coupling of the mechanical mode to an ensemble of microscopic two-level system defects driven out of equilibrium by a microwave drive. In contrast to the conventional Duffing oscillator, the observed nonlinearity exhibits a mixed reactive-dissipative character. Notably, the reactive effect can manifest as either a softening or hardening of the mechanical resonance, depending on the ratio of thermal to phonon energy. By combining the standard TLS theory with a thermal conductance model, the measured power-dependent response is quantitatively reproduced and readout-enhanced relaxation damping from off-resonant TLSs is identified as the primary mechanism limiting mechanical coherence. Within this framework, we delineate the conditions under which similar systems will realize this nonlinearity.
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All authors Cyril Metzger, Alec L. Emser, Brendon C. Rose, Konrad W. Lehnert

Quantum Physics

Geometric phase from encircling an exceptional point of a quantum resonance in the complex-scaling method

Non-Hermitian operators are now routinely used to describe few-mode systems such as optical resonators and superconducting qubits, and exceptional points (EPs) are defective spectral singularities of such non-Hermitian operators. In contrast, the scattering-theoretic formulation of EP physics for unbounded Hamiltonians remains less settled. In this work, we formulate the geometric phase associated with encircling an EP when the underlying eigenstates are quantum resonances within a one-dimensional scattering model. To do this, we employ the complex-scaling method, where resonance poles of the S matrix are realized as discrete eigenvalues of the non-Hermitian dilated Hamiltonian, to construct situations in which resonant and scattering states coalesce into an EP in the complex energy plane, that is, the resonance pole is embedded into the continuum spectrum. We analyze the self-orthogonality in the vicinity of an EP, the Berry phase, and the Chern characteristic. Our results clarify how EP branch structure and geometric holonomy arise directly from resonance poles in scattering theory, thereby connecting non-Hermitian spectral topology with the traditional theory of quantum resonances.
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Tuesday 30 December

Quantum Physics

The Quantum State Continuity Problem and Temporal Enforcement Against Fork Attacks

We introduce the Quantum State Continuity Problem (QSCP), a security objective orthogonal to identity authentication that captures whether a systems current execution is a legitimate continuation of a unique past execution. We show that classical and stateless quantum authentication mechanisms fail to enforce continuity and remain vulnerable to fork attacks. To address this gap, we propose the Quantum State Continuity Witness (QSCW), a minimal quantum-assisted primitive that enforces temporal linkage of execution through stateful quantum evolution and cumulative auditing. Using a GHZ-based toy instantiation and extensive simulation, we demonstrate that temporal enforcement suppresses fork attacks with exponential decay in success probability, while remaining robust to noise and system parameters. Our results highlight execution continuity as a distinct and underexplored dimension of system security.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cs.LG

Path Integral Solution for Dissipative Generative Dynamics

Can purely mechanical systems generate intelligent language? We prove that dissipative quantum dynamics with analytically tractable non-local context aggregation produce coherent text generation, while conservation laws cause fundamental failure. Employing Koopman operators with closed-form path integral propagators, we show irreversible computation fundamentally requires both controlled information dissipation and causal context aggregation. Spectral analysis reveals emergent eigenvalue structure, separating into decay modes (forgetting), growth modes (amplification), and neutral modes (preservation) – the essential ingredients for directed information flow. Hamiltonian constraints force the elimination of these dissipative modes and degrading performance despite unchanged model capacity. This establishes language generation as dissipative quantum field theory, proving mechanical systems acquire intelligence through the combination of dissipation and non-locality, not through conservation.
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Quantum Physics

Sample Complexity for Embedded Multipartite Entanglement Witness via Pauli and Clifford Classical Shadows

Detecting multipartite entanglement in many qubit systems is measurement-intensive, motivating protocols that estimate only selected observables with provable efficiency. In this work we use the classical shadow protocol to study the sample complexity required to estimate a family of subsystem $n$-partite entanglement witness embedded in an larger $N$-qubit system. We derive ensemble dependent variance bounds that lead to qualitatively distinct scaling for the snapshots cost at fixed additive error $\epsilon$ with numerical simulations confirm these trends, exhibiting a clear crossover from Pauli favorable performance for local witness to Clifford favorable performance as the witness becomes more global.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from physics.optics

Exploring Spectral Singularities and Topological Lasers in PT-Symmetric Weyl Semimetals

This paper investigates the unique properties of PT-symmetric Topological Weyl Semimetals (TWS) within the framework of non-Hermitian physics, focusing on their potential for generating topological lasers. By exploring the role of spectral singularities and their relationship to exceptional points, we examine how these materials, characterized by Weyl nodes and topologically protected surface states, can support novel optical phenomena such as unidirectional propagation and enhanced lasing. Through a theoretical model based on the transfer matrix approach, we reveal how the interplay between the PT symmetry and the axion term introduces new dynamics, leading to 12 distinct topological laser configurations. The study also investigates the impact of the $\theta$-term on spectral singularities, showing how it quantizes the system's gain values and influences the topological properties of the lasers. By applying our model to the TaAs material, a known Weyl semimetal, we uncover previously unreported effects, demonstrating the potential of PT-symmetric TWS materials for advanced optoelectronic applications. We show that the axion-induced cyclotron-like Hall current in a PT-symmetric TWS medium, revealing its topological characteristics and distinct flow patterns in the gain and loss regions, which serve as indicators of the system's topological symmetry. Our findings open new avenues for the development of robust, tunable, and efficient topological lasers with applications in quantum information processing and beyond.
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Quantum Physics

Multidimensional derivative-free optimization. A case study on minimization of Hartree-Fock-Roothaan energy functionals

This study presents an evaluation of derivative-free optimization algorithms for the direct minimization of Hartree-Fock-Roothaan energy functionals involving nonlinear orbital parameters and quantum numbers with noninteger order. The analysis focuses on atomic calculations employing noninteger Slater-type orbitals. Analytic derivatives of the energy functional are not readily available for these orbitals. Four methods are investigated under identical numerical conditions: Powell's conjugate-direction method, the Nelder-Mead simplex algorithm, coordinate-based pattern search, and a model-based algorithm utilizing radial basis functions for surrogate-model construction. Performance benchmarking is first performed using the Powell singular function, a well-established test case exhibiting challenging properties including Hessian singularity at the global minimum. The algorithms are then applied to Hartree-Fock-Roothaan self-consistent-field energy functionals, which define a highly non-convex optimization landscape due to the nonlinear coupling of orbital parameters. Illustrative examples are provided for closed$-$shell atomic configurations, specifically the He, Be isoelectronic series, with calculations performed for energy functionals involving up to eight nonlinear parameters. This work presents the first systematic investigation of derivative-free optimization methods for Hartree-Fock$-$Roothaan energy minimization with non-integer Slater orbitals.
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Quantum Physics

Spectroscopy of Quantum Phase Slips: Visualizing Complex Real-Time Instantons

Parametrically driven oscillators can emerge as a basis for the next generation of qubits. Classically, these systems exhibit two stable oscillatory states with opposite phases. Upon quantization, these states turn into a pair of closely spaced Floquet states, which can serve as the logical basis for a qubit. However, interaction with the environment induces phase-slip events which set a limit on qubit coherence. Such phase slips persist even at zero temperature due to a mechanism known as quantum activation \cite{QuantumActivation}. In contrast to conventional tunneling, the quantum activation is described by a real-time instanton trajectory in the complexified phase space of the system. In this work, we show that the phase-slip rate is exponentially sensitive to weak AC perturbations. The spectrum of the system's response – captured by the so-called logarithmic susceptibility (LS) – enables a direct observation of characteristic features of real-time instantons. Studying this spectrum suggests new means of efficient qubit control.
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All authors Foster Thompson, Daniel K. J. Boneß, Mark Dykman, Alex Kamenev

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from hep-th

Necessary and sufficient conditions for entropy vector realizability by holographic simple tree graph models

We prove that the “chordality condition”, which was established in arXiv:2412.18018 as a necessary condition for an entropy vector to be realizable by a holographic simple tree graph model, is also sufficient. The proof is constructive, demonstrating that the algorithm introduced in arXiv:2512.18702 for constructing a simple tree graph model realization of a given entropy vector that satisfies this condition always succeeds. We emphasize that these results hold for an arbitrary number of parties, and, given that any entropy vector realizable by a holographic graph model can also be realized, at least approximately, by a stabilizer state, they highlight how techniques originally developed in holography can provide broad insights into entanglement and information theory more generally, and in particular, into the structure of the stabilizer and quantum entropy cones. Moreover, if the strong form of the conjecture from arXiv:2204.00075 holds, namely, if all holographic entropy vectors can be realized by (not necessarily simple) tree graph models, then the result of this work demonstrates that the essential data that encodes the structure of the holographic entropy cone for an arbitrary number of parties, is the set of “chordal” extreme rays of the subadditivity cone.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from eess.SP

The Wigner-Ville Transform as an Information Theoretic Tool in Radio-frequency Signal Analysis

This paper presents novel interpretations to the field of classical signal processing of the Wigner-Ville transform as an information measurement tool. The transform's utility in detecting and localizing information-laden signals amidst noisy and cluttered backgrounds, and further providing measure of their information volumes, are detailed herein using Tsallis' entropy and information and related functionals. Example use cases in radio frequency communications are given, where Wigner-Ville-based detection measures can be seen to provide significant sensitivity advantage, for some shown contexts greater than 15~dB advantage, over energy-based measures and without extensive training routines. Such an advantage is particularly significant for applications which have limitations on observation resources including time/space integration pressures and transient and/or feeble signals, where Wigner-Ville-based methods would improve sensing effectiveness by multiple orders of magnitude. The potential for advancement of several such applications is discussed.
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All authors Erik Lentz, Emily Ellwein, Bill Kay, Audun Myers, Cameron Mackenzie

Quantum Physics

Three-Axis Spin Squeezed States Associated with Excited-State Quantum Phase Transitions

Spin squeezing in collective atomic ensembles enables quantum-enhanced metrology by reducing noise below the standard quantum limit through nonlinear interactions. Extending the one-axis and two-axis twisting paradigms of Kitagawa and Ueda, we introduce a general class of three-axis spin squeezed states within the anisotropic Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model. The model features direction-dependent quadratic couplings that interpolate between uniaxial and biaxial regimes and can be interpreted as an asymmetric quantum rotor. Using semiclassical dynamics, Majorana representations, and Husimi-Q distributions, we analyze the structure and metrological properties of the resulting states. The three-axis framework reproduces the known N^(-2/3) scaling of one-axis twisting and the Heisenberg-limited N^(-1) scaling of two-axis twisting, while allowing additional tunability and enhanced entanglement generation in low-spin systems. We further show that tuning the anisotropy parameters induces ground-state and excited-state quantum phase transitions, including a second-order transition associated with level clustering and critical dynamics. These results unify spin squeezing, quantum criticality, and rotor analogies, and suggest implementations in Rydberg arrays and cavity-QED platforms for precision sensing and quantum simulation.
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Quantum Physics

A Boundary Condition Perspective on Circuit QED Dispersive Readout

Boundary conditions in confined geometries and measurement interactions in quantum mechanics share a common structural role: both select a preferred basis by determining which states are compatible with the imposed constraint. This paper develops this perspective for circuit QED dispersive readout through a first-principles derivation starting from the circuit Lagrangian. The transmon qubit terminating a transmission line resonator provides a frequency-dependent boundary condition whose pole structure encodes the qubit's transition frequencies; different qubit states yield different resonator frequencies. Two approximations, linear response and a pole-dominated expansion valid near resonance, reduce the boundary function to a rational form in the Sturm-Liouville eigenparameter. The extended Hilbert space of the Fulton-Walter spectral theory then provides a framework for the dressed-mode eigenvalue problem conditional on the qubit state. The dispersive shift and vacuum Rabi splitting emerge from the transcendental eigenvalue equation, with the residues determined by matching to the splitting: $\delta_{ge} = 2Lg^2\omega_q^2/v^4$, where $g$ is the vacuum Rabi coupling. A level repulsion theorem guarantees that no dressed mode frequency coincides with a transmon transition. For two qubits with matched dispersive shifts, odd-parity states become frequency-degenerate; true parity-only measurement requires engineered suppression of linear dispersive terms.
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Quantum Physics

Quantum phase synchronisation enhanced via Coulomb interaction in an optomechanical system

In this work, we investigate the dynamics of quantum synchronization in a four-mode optomechanical system, focusing on the influence of the Coulomb interaction between two mechanical resonators. We analyze the effect of the Coulomb coupling on three distinct synchronization regimes, i.e., complete quantum synchronization, $\phi$-synchronization, and quantum phase synchronization. Our results show that while the Coulomb interaction plays a pivotal role in significantly enhancing quantum phase synchronization by facilitating energy exchange and phase coherence, it has little impact on complete and $\phi$-synchronization. This indicates that amplitude and frequency locking are primarily determined by the optical driving, whereas phase alignment depends critically on inter-resonator coupling. We also demonstrate that the oscillations of the two optical cavities, which are indirectly coupled via the mechanical resonators, can become aligned over time, resulting in classical synchronization. These findings provide a robust mechanism for controlling collective quantum dynamics and offer a foundation for applications in quantum communication, precision sensing, and the development of synchronized quantum networks.
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All authors E. K. Berinyuy, P. Djorwé, J.-X. Peng, A. Sohail, J. Ghosh, A.-H. Abdel-Aty, S. G. N. Engo, S. K. Singh