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Monday 18 May

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Dominant vibronic relaxation channels in a europium-based molecular qubit

Molecular spin qubits offer a versatile platform for quantum information processing due to their synthetic tunability and well-defined electronic structure. Here, a fitted-parameter-free computational framework combining density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT), and Redfield theory is applied to investigate the longitudinal spin-lattice relaxation time $T_1$ of the Eu nuclear spin qubit Eu(dpphen)(NO3)3. Using a single-molecule gas-phase model, the experimental long relaxation component $T_{1,\mathrm{long}} = 41.39$ s is reproduced within a factor of 1.4 (calculated: 55.88 s at 4.2 K), indicating that the slow relaxation channel is governed by intramolecular vibronic coupling. In contrast, the calculated $T_{1,\mathrm{short}}$ deviates by a factor of 66, highlighting the importance of crystal lattice and intermolecular effects absent from the model. The experimental $^5D_0 \rightarrow {}^7F_0$ optical transition is reproduced to within 1.1%, supporting the accuracy of the electronic structure description. Vibrational analysis identifies a large-amplitude dpphen rocking mode at a frequency of $332.02~\mathrm{cm}^{-1}$ as the dominant vibronic coupling channel, while electric field gradient (EFG) derivative analysis independently identifies another nitrate-rocking mode at $180.57~\mathrm{cm}^{-1}$ as the primary modulator of the nuclear spin environment via nitrate motion. These results are consistent with a near-maximal quadrupole asymmetry parameter $\eta = 0.941$, which creates state mixing through off-diagonal quadrupolar terms. Overall, the results establish a single-molecule relaxation baseline and suggest targeted ligand rigidification and substitution strategies to suppress decoherence.
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Quantum Physics

Causal Fisher-Information Inequalities: Classical Causal Model Falsification and Metrological Advantage

Fisher-information inequalities have recently been used as operational witnesses of nonclassical metrological behavior, but their physical meaning is often tied to a particular narrative, such as, segmented dynamics or discrete trajectories. We show that a broader interpretation is available and, in fact, more natural: once an experiment is assumed to admit a classical causal model specified by a directed acyclic graph, conditional independences, and modular parameter dependence, the corresponding Fisher informations are forced to obey causal Fisher-information inequalities (CFIIs). The backbone result is a causal-path series law: for an additive causal parameter that propagates through a classical path $A \to C \to B$, the inverse Fisher information behaves as an information resistance and must add in series. Consequently, any CFII violation is a rigorous falsification of the entire classical causal model class. We then show that the violation is automatically a metrological resource certificate, because it implies a precision that no member of the classical causal class can attain. The gain mechanism is identified as Fisher-information synergy, i.e. off-diagonal score correlations that classical modularity forbids. A single-qubit coherent-rotation example demonstrates the deterministic CFII violation, estimator-level achievability of the resulting gain, robustness against split-optimized classical benchmarks, and a chain-amplified advantage in long causal decompositions. Finally, an AI-assisted adversarial finite-data stress test shows that the witness remains certifiable under the realistic visibility loss and readout error, while optimized modular classical causal models saturate but do not cross the CFII frontier.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from physics.flu-dyn

Unitary discretization of the Koopman-von Neumann equation for quantum simulation of fluid and plasma dynamics

The Koopman–von Neumann (KvN) formulation of spectrally truncated fluid and plasma dynamics is considered as a potential approach for quantum computation. The KvN framework embeds the Liouville equation into a Hilbert space with norm-preserving, unitary evolution. Here, we propose a Weyl-ordered KvN generator along with a summation-by-parts discretization, which ensures that the resulting operators are exactly unitary as required for quantum computers. The Weyl-ordered KvN generator is derived as the unique anti-Hermitian operator symmetrization for real velocity fields. The formulation operates directly in the physical amplitude space without phase-space doubling, so the Heisenberg uncertainty principle does not constrain the grid resolution during evolution. This limitation re-enters only at the measurement stage on a quantum computer. Exact discrete unitarity is proved as a purely algebraic identity that holds regardless of grid resolution or stencil order. To manage boundaries, a split-step Kraus absorbing layer is introduced via a Stinespring dilation requiring only one ancilla qubit. Validation on three test cases spanning dissipative and Hamiltonian regimes (a viscous Navier–Stokes triad, an incompressible Euler triad, and a Hasegawa–Mima drift-wave triad) confirms fourth-order convergence and machine-precision unitarity.
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Quantum Physics

Ancilla Assisted Quantum Process Tomography using Bound entangled states

Lu et al. [Ann. Phys. (Berlin) 534, 2100550 (2022)] posed the question of whether bound entangled states can be used for ancilla-assisted quantum process tomography (AAQPT). In this work, we answer this question in the affirmative by explicitly demonstrating that certain bound entangled states can be used for AAQPT. We further show that, although local filtering operations may improve the trace norm of the realignment criterion, they are essentially ineffective for AAQPT, as they render the resulting states unfaithful and therefore unsuitable for reliable process reconstruction. Further, we investigate the efficiency of bound entangled states for AAQPT and establish quantitative bounds by comparing their performance with Werner and isotropic states. Our results therefore provide a new application of bound entangled states in the context of ancilla-assisted quantum process tomography.
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Quantum Physics

Rotational Quantum Tunneling of a Magnetic Dipole in a Superconducting Trap

We study the quantum dynamics of the rotational degree of freedom of a nano-magnet trapped in a superconducting trap. The nano-magnet is modeled as a magnetic dipole with magnetization pinned to the easy axis of the particle. The magnetic trap then leads to a potential barrier that hinders free rotation of the particle, but through which it can tunnel. We identified rest-gas scattering as the most important decoherence mechanism at low temperatures. A shape of the particle sufficiently close to perfect rotational symmetry about the rotational axis can protect the rotational tunneling against this decoherence mechanism, and we identify experimentally feasible parameter regimes where rotational tunneling should be observable.
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All authors Francis J. Headley, Fabian Müller, Emre Köse, Tim Fuchs, Hendrik Ulbricht, Daniel Braun

Quantum Physics

Quantum Magic Reveals CP Phases Invisible to Entanglement in Spin-0 Decays

All standard scalar quantum-information measures – concurrence, negativity, entanglement entropy, the optimized CHSH bound, and quantum Fisher information – are CP-blind in ideal \\ spin-0 $\to f\bar f$ decays because the two-qubit spin state is maximally entangled for every CP angle. We show that stabilizer magic, fixed in the physical Pauli frame of spin analysis, escapes this blind spot: the stabilizer Rényi entropy admits an exact closed form, vanishing at CP-definite and Clifford phases and peaking at maximal non-Clifford mixing. Two experimentally accessible, magic-inspired CP witnesses follow; the linear amplitude is $14.3\times$ more efficient than its quartic counterpart and reaches discovery-level sensitivity at the HL-LHC for $H\to\tau^+\tau^-$.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from physics.atom-ph

Achieving High Filling of an Optical Lattice by Light-Assisted Redistribution of Atoms

Scalable arrays of individual atoms provide an ideal starting point for quantum information and simulation experiments. However, their preparation is often limited by light-assisted collisions (LACs), which typically result in parity-projected filling fractions of $f \approx 0.5$. In this work we demonstrate a light-assisted redistribution process in the Quantum Matter Synthesizer that overcomes this constraint by stochastically moving atoms from multiply occupied lattice sites to neighboring vacant sites. Using a blue-detuned optical pumping beam during degenerate Raman sideband cooling, we achieve single-atom filling fractions of $70-80\%$. We find that over 50$\%$ of the atoms involved in radiative collisions are retained in the lattice. The redistribution process involves many LACs over an extended time as atoms diffuse to empty sites. Our demonstration offers a scalable and efficient pathway toward unity-filled atom arrays without the need for complex rearrangement protocols, with broad applicability to quantum simulation, precision measurements, and quantum information control.
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All authors Lauren Weiss, Evan Yamaguchi, Claire Pritts, Tadej Mežnaršič, Cheng Chin

Quantum Physics

Freezing-Induced Interaction Engineering in Fixed-Frequency Transmon Networks

Freezing is usually used to suppress unwanted dynamics, but it can also be used to engineer interactions. We introduce freezing-induced interaction engineering, a drive-only control scheme in which a continuously driven auxiliary subsystem remains frozen while its drive-dependent state reshapes the effective Hamiltonian of neighboring degrees of freedom. We apply this idea to fixed-frequency transmon systems using a driven modulator coupled to a pivot transmon with fixed native exchange interactions to neighboring transmons. Changing only the modulator drive frequency controls the dressed resonance condition of the pivot, selectively activating a native interaction or detuning it from all neighbors. Full lab-frame simulations of multilevel transmons demonstrate this switching mechanism and show that it remains effective under finite-time frequency ramps. We further demonstrate the same control mechanism numerically in a four-transmon, two-neighbor setting, where changing only the modulator drive frequency selectively activates either neighboring native interaction or suppresses both. Repeating this local control unit along a fixed-frequency chain gives a scalable architecture for alternating layers of native iSWAP interactions.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from hep-th

Modular Self-Duality, Symmetrized Relative Entropy, and Bogoliubov–Kubo–Mori Susceptibility in Quantum Field Theory

We develop an operator-algebraic framework for modular self-duality, symmetrized relative entropy, and Bogoliubov–Kubo–Mori (BKM) susceptibility of local states in quantum field theory. In finite dimensions, modular self-duality singles out fixed points at which a state coincides with its modularly reflected partner. At such points, the natural comparison functional is the symmetrized Umegaki relative entropy. It vanishes at coincidence, and its Hessian is governed by the BKM quantum Fisher information along the reflected tangent direction. We then extend this fixed-point construction to the local type~III von Neumann algebras that arise in quantum field theory. Here, a local state is compared with the modular pullback of its commutant restriction, and the intrinsic comparison functional is the symmetrized Araki relative entropy. For sufficiently regular state deformations, the fixed-localization Hessian at the self-dual point defines a type~III BKM susceptibility. This coefficient is obtained by evaluating the BKM bilinear form on the tangent selected by the modular pairing. Exact coherent-state realizations are obtained for the free scalar field on wedge algebras and for the chiral $U(1)$ current on half-line algebras. In both examples, the comparison functional is exactly quadratic in the deformation parameter, and the susceptibility coefficients admit explicit boost-energy, stress-tensor, or half-line integral representations. We also apply the construction to a ball-shaped boundary region in the vacuum state of a conformal field theory with a semiclassical anti-de Sitter (AdS) gravitational dual. For linear bulk coherent excitations in an exact complementary-recovery model of this sector, bulk–boundary modular intertwining identifies the modular partner with the AdS–Rindler-reflected coherent state, and the symmetrized relative entropy is exactly quadratic.
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Quantum Physics

Quantum Koopman Algorithms

Solving high-dimensional dynamical systems by encoding their state in the amplitudes of a quantum state is expected to be a core application of fault-tolerant quantum computers. However, the conditions under which this paradigm yields quantum advantage can be restrictive, motivating complementary approaches. Here, we introduce Quantum Koopman Algorithms, where quantum amplitudes encode approximately closed sets of observables for a linear or nonlinear dynamics. These amplitudes evolve under the Koopman operator, and we establish conditions for efficient quantum algorithms addressing both dynamical and spectral problems. With this approach, we show that classes of open-system dynamics involving exponentially large fermionic systems can be efficiently simulated on a quantum computer. For nonlinear dynamics, we introduce a novel nonlinear interaction picture that enables quantum simulation beyond existing weak-nonlinearity conditions, and extract late-time spectral data where quantum phase estimation is unavailable.
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All authors David Jennings, Kamil Korzekwa, Matteo Lostaglio, Guoming Wang

Quantum Physics

Signatures of quantum noise in the operation of Deutsch's algorithm

We use Deutsch's algorithm as a stand in for more complex quantum algorithms in order to determine how quantum properties of an environment manifest themselves in results that can be obtained on quantum computers. We model pure dephasing in two different ways; one keeps the full density matrix of the qubits and environments (quantum) while the other uses Kraus operators (classical). We find that a single run of the algorithm yields the same effect in both cases, but running the algorithm twice leads to stark differences. Taking correlations and interplay between different decoherence processes into account leads to a slowing of decoherence effects for balanced functions. For constant functions, the effect is much more pronounced, and there is a qualitative change in the dependence of measurement outcomes on decoherence. We present results obtained on one of the IBM Quantum processors, which fully reproduce the predicted effect regardless of the assumptions made in the derivation. We further illustrate the findings on NV center spin qubits, which show more complex behavior due to a small size of the environment.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.str-el

Hidden weak-pairing superconductivity of non-interacting anyons obeying $\frac{1}{3}$ statistics

We show that a non-interacting gas of charge-$e/3$ anyons with exchange statistics $\theta=-\pi/3$ can superconduct through a hidden weak-pairing mechanism. Such an anyon gas arises naturally in doped fractional Chern insulators at filling $1/3$ or $2/3$, where projective lattice translations enforce three degenerate anyon pockets. Exploiting this three-pocket structure, we develop a flux-attachment construction in which the average statistical flux vanishes, thereby mapping the problem to three species of composite fermions (CFs) in zero effective magnetic field. We show that the anyon statistics itself, encoded in statistical gauge field fluctuations, supplies the pairing glue and drives the CFs into a $p-\mathrm{i}p$ paired state, which corresponds to a $f-\mathrm{i}f$ physical superconductor. The CF strong-pairing phase is adiabatically connected to Laughlin's picture of anyon superconductivity, where charge-$e/3$ anyons bind into charge-$2e/3$ molecules, which then lead to superconductivity. By contrast, the more natural weak-pairing phase of CFs realizes a distinct superconducting phase - its edge is characterized by a chiral central charge $c_-=-1/2$, in contrast to the prediction of integer $c_-$ for the anyon superconductor based on Laughlin's picture, thereby resolving the discrepancy between previous theories and recent numerical results. Our theory provides a natural framework for understanding superconductivity near fractional Chern insulators, as observed in recent experiments. Finally, we discuss extensions of our theory that predict new chiral superconductors adjacent to FCIs at other fillings.
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Quantum Physics

Semiclassical periodic-orbit theory for quantum spectra

Gutzwiller's trace formula has a central place in quantum chaos because it provides semiclassical approximations for quantum energy levels in classically chaotic systems by linking them to classical periodic orbits. In this didactic article, we discuss a derivation of the trace formula starting from the Feynman path integral. We then describe how the trace formula is used to explain universal features in the distribution of the quantum energy levels that are described by random matrix theory, and we give an overview of related work.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.mes-hall

Collective charge measurement in quantum dot chains: controlling barrier occupation and tunneling current

We investigate nonequilibrium transport in a triple-quantum-dot (TQD) system, where the central dot acts as a discrete tunnel barrier, subject to continuous monitoring by a quantum point contact (QPC) that is capacitively coupled to all three dots with independently tunable strengths. We show that this global measurement scheme affects transport in a qualitatively distinct manner from single-site measurement. By engineering structured dephasing, measurement provides a significant improvement in the barrier occupation and tunneling current. In the strong-measurement limit, the steady state becomes independent of the underlying Hamiltonian parameters, and the barrier occupation can approach 1/2 for suitable measurement configurations. We identify an optimal measurement configuration that maximizes the steady-state current and show that near-optimal performance can be achieved with a simple central-dot readout scheme.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.stat-mech

Non-Gaussianity of random quantum states

We study the fermionic non-Gaussianity in typical quantum states, focusing on Haar random states of qubits with or without a global $U(1)$ symmetry. Using the Weingarten calculus, we derive analytical predictions for the non-Gaussianity, defined as the relative entropy between the reduced density matrix and its Gaussianized counterpart. We identify two regimes controlled by the ratio between the subsystem and the system size, $\ell/L$. For $\ell/L < 1/2$, the non-Gaussianity vanishes in the absence of symmetries, because typical reduced density matrices are exponentially close to the maximally mixed state. In the presence of a global $U(1)$ symmetry, instead, it remains small but finite. By contrast, in the regime $\ell/L > 1/2$, the non-Gaussianity becomes extensive. These results establish the typical scaling of fermionic non-Gaussianity in random states and analyze how this is modified by the presence of global symmetries.
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Quantum Physics

Efficient Fourier-Based Linear Combination of Unitaries and Applications in Quantum Optimization

We investigate ancilla-free linear combination of unitaries (LCU) as a framework for approximating complex quantum circuits. This is particularly effective for quantum optimization algorithms, where candidate solutions can be evaluated classically and the task is to sample high-quality bitstrings rather than reproduce the full output distribution. We show that Fourier-based LCU constructions efficiently decompose broad classes of diagonal and non-diagonal unitaries, replacing highly connected qubit interactions with single-qubit gate layers or significantly simpler structures at the cost of a polynomial sampling overhead. Applied to algorithms such as QAOA, this yields efficient, hardware-friendly decompositions of, for instance, cardinality-constraint penalties and the fully connected XY-mixer, while maintaining rigorous performance guarantees compared to fully coherent implementations. Furthermore, we establish a formal connection between Fourier-based quantum penalties and Lagrangian relaxation, offering a unified perspective on constraint handling. We validate our approach using exact statevector simulations of 12-qubit circuits and large-scale experiments on 106 superconducting qubits. Our results illustrate how approximate sampling via an LCU systematically trades circuit complexity for sampling overhead, extending the practical reach of near-term quantum optimization.
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Quantum Physics

A Review of Galois Qudits

Galois qudits are $q$-dimensional quantum systems whose choice of Pauli group encodes the arithmetic of some finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$. They differ from the more familiar modular qudit, which are the same quantum system but whose choice of Pauli group are the clock and shift operators, which encode the arithmetic of integer addition and multiplication modulo $q$. Galois qudits are a useful mathematical construct that allow us to leverage the mathematical tools that are native to the larger qudit while only physically building smaller qudits. In particular, a Galois qudit of dimension $q = 2^s$ is exactly the same thing as a collection of $s$ qubits, not only in its Hilbert space, but also in its Pauli group, and Clifford hierarchy. This formalism has found a lot of utility recently in constructing quantum error-correcting codes over qubits with useful properties. In this review, we build on existing literature to collect and formalise facts and proofs about Galois qudits over binary extension fields. We define them and their Clifford hierarchies, describe what it means to measure their Pauli operators, describe their stabiliser tableaux, formally define qudit-to-qubit mappings, and finally describe quantum Reed-Solomon codes.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.supr-con

Signatures of Gaussian superconducting fluctuations in nonlocal noise magnetometry

We calculate the two-point magnetic noise spectrum arising from Gaussian superconducting fluctuations, a quantity directly measurable by spin qubit pairs such as nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond. The analysis utilizes the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, reflecting the direct contribution of fluctuating Cooper pairs to the current correlations and consequent magnetic noise. We treat both two-dimensional systems and wires, considering them in equilibrium and under a uniform electric field. The signal is expected to be strongest in high-temperature superconductors, and we contrast our findings with the predicted signatures of a vortex liquid to offer an additional route to elucidate the nature of fluctuations in these systems.
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Quantum Physics

Clifford symmetries in quantum many-body systems

Obtaining the symmetries of a model is a critical step towards developing an understanding and ultimately analytically or numerically solving the model. However, finding symmetries is generally extremely complicated, often being the result of insightful thinking. In this work, we complement human ingenuity with an algorithm. We leverage the classically efficient Clifford group to find symmetries for arbitrary many-body Hamiltonians via a graph representation. We demonstrate our method on random and physical Hamiltonians, with instances of up to one thousand qubits and demonstrate how our approach can provide deeper understanding of the model.
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All authors Charlie Nation, Rick P. A. Simon, Shreya Banerjee, Francesco Martini, Alessandro Ricottone, Federico Cerisola, Luca Dellantonio

Quantum Physics

Scalable Single-Step Generation of W States in 2D Superconducting Qubit Lattices

The reliable generation of multi-qubit entanglement is a prerequisite for large-scale quantum information technologies. In particular, W states are a valuable resource owing to their resilience under local loss or measurement. Nevertheless, preparing these states with sequential two-qubit gates often requires substantial time overhead. By contrast, engineered simultaneous interactions enable fast entanglement generation, even in qubit systems with limited nearest-neighbour connectivity. Here, we demonstrate a set of fast and robust operations for coherently distributing a single excitation across a lattice of arbitrary size, thereby directly generating W states from initial product states. In 2D lattices, the excitation propagates along both directions simultaneously, such that the total entanglement time scales only with the largest dimension. We exploit this property to prepare a six-qubit W state in a 3$\times$2 superconducting lattice within 99 ns, achieving a tomographic fidelity of 83.9$\pm$1.0%. We then extend the protocol to create entanglement across chains of up to seven qubits, with the largest W state generated in 264 ns with a fidelity of 79.6$\pm$1.3%.
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All authors João H. Romeiro, Federico A. Roy, Niklas Bruckmoser, Ivan Tsitsilin, Niklas J. Glaser, Christian M. F. Schneider, Gerhard B. P. Huber, Saya A. Schöbe, Johannes Schirk, Florian Wallner, Malay Singh, Julius Feigl, Leon Koch, Lasse Södergren, Max Werninghaus, Stefan Filipp

Quantum Physics

4D and 5D Layer Codes through Color Routing

We introduce and explicit Calderbank-Shor-Steane (CSS) code construction that generalizes the Layer codes to $D=4,5$ dimensions. Much like its predecessor, the present construction is based on embedding quantum low-density parity check (qLDPC) codes; from an $[[n,k,d]]$ code with energy barrier $\Delta$, we obtain a $D=4,5$ dimensional Layer code with parameters $[[\Theta(n^{D/(D-2)}), k, \Theta(dn^{1/(D-2)})]]$ and energy barrier $\Omega(\Delta)$. Using good qLDPC codes as input, our construction saturates the $D=4,5$ dimensional BPT bounds exactly. The higher dimensional Layer Codes are modular, and thus well suited to architectures composed of modular network patches, despite our physical limitation to three dimensions. We overcome the hurdles encountered by previous generalization attempts through the use of color routing, allowing us to resolve the structure of the check layers and line defects.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.quant-gas

Generalized Hydrodynamics of Bloch Oscillations in the Absence of a Lattice

Objects subjected to a constant force generally increase their velocity over time. This expectation fails whenever their energy is a smooth and periodic function of momentum, resulting in periodic Bloch oscillations instead. Periodic dispersions, typical of lattice systems, can also emerge in continuum media through strong interactions. Here, we study the phenomenon of such Bloch oscillations in the absence of a lattice in a paradigmatic model of integrable quantum gases: the two-component Yang-Gaudin model. We derive a generalized-hydrodynamic theory of Bloch oscillations for a finite density of impurities embedded in a homogeneous interacting background, which we show to persist superimposed to a drift due to the acceleration of the center of mass. Moreover, we show the single-impurity oscillation period is renormalized at finite impurity density when two-magnon bound states are populated. Our results are relevant for ultracold atom experiments, where impurities can be created at controllable densities.
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All authors Stefano Scopa, Philip Zechmann, Michael Knap, Jacopo De Nardis, Alvise Bastianello

Quantum Physics

Non-perturbative measurements of two-point functions in quantum field theory

We present a non-perturbative method through which local probes can access the two-point function of a quantum field within a region of spacetime. By considering a lattice of gapless particle detectors, we identified the probe observables that encode the field's two-point function. We quantify the discrepancies introduced by physical finite-sized interaction regions by performing a spacetime multipole expansion of the smeared two-point function. Our protocol expresses the two-point function entirely in terms of measurable detectors correlations, providing an operational notion of states in QFT.
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Quantum Physics

Noise-induced Simulability Transition from Operator Scrambling

The complexity of simulating quantum many-body dynamics, or quantum computations, in the Heisenberg picture is governed by the scrambling of initially simple operators into superpositions of exponentially many Pauli strings. The corresponding expansion coefficients define the Pauli spectrum, whose structure controls the performance of classical algorithms based on truncating Pauli expansions. Here we determine the finite-depth Pauli spectrum of random quantum circuits, both in the noiseless case and in the presence of local noise, through its moments, given by the operator stabilizer Rényi entropies. In noiseless circuits, we uncover a hierarchy in the approach to the fully scrambled regime: low moments equilibrate at relatively short depths, while higher moments, which are sensitive to rare, large-amplitude Pauli coefficients, require parametrically larger depths. In noisy circuits, scrambling competes with an effective suppression of operator spreading. Above a critical error per cycle $\gamma_c N=\mathcal{O}(1)$, the operator fails to reach the fully scrambled distribution and remains supported on an atypically sparse subset of Pauli strings. Conversely, below this scale, we rigorously show that classical simulation remains exponentially hard, demonstrating that finite noise does not automatically imply classical simulability. The resulting noise-induced transition in operator complexity therefore delineates the boundary between intrinsically hard quantum dynamics and those that remain classically accessible.
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All authors Neil Dowling, Xhek Turkeshi, Jacopo De Nardis, Guglielmo Lami

Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.supr-con

Detecting vortex motion through spatially correlated nonequilibrium noise

Resistive transport near a superconducting phase can arise from the motion of normal-state quasiparticles or that of vortices. The conductivity alone does not distinguish between these mechanisms. We propose an unambiguous method for telling them apart, using the recently developed experimental tool of covariance magnetometry, which uses nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to probe real-time spatiotemporal correlations in magnetic noise. Our key insight is that, under an applied current, the underlying charge carriers leave a directional fingerprint in the spatially correlated magnetic noise above the sample: ordinary electric carriers drift parallel to the current, whereas vortices, owing to the Magnus force, drift perpendicular to it. The noise covariance detects this anisotropy and identifies the vortex-driven nature of transport. We compute the noise correlations expected for a representative thin-film superconductor and demonstrate that the anisotropic signal is well within the reach of current experimental capabilities.
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Quantum Physics

A Risk-Aware Framework for Covert Quantum Communication under Stochastic Channel Uncertainty

Covert quantum communication (CQC) seeks to hide not only message content but also the existence of communication. Existing CQC models usually assume deterministic or worst-case channel conditions, which are difficult to justify in realistic free-space optical and quantum links affected by turbulence, fluctuating background radiance, and stochastic detector noise. We propose a stochastic risk-aware optimization framework for CQC under uncertain physical-layer conditions. By modeling transmissivity and background noise as random variables, we express covertness and reliability guarantees through chance constraints with explicit outage budgets $\epsilon_{\text{cov}}$ and $\epsilon_{\text{rel}}$. This recasts CQC design as a risk-calibrated resource-allocation problem balancing throughput, covertness, reliability, and communication privacy. We derive quantile-based reformulations of the outage constraints, characterize feasible operating regions under stochastic uncertainty, and introduce a complementary risk-adjusted utility formulation to expose throughput-risk trade-offs. The analysis reveals that modest relaxations in acceptable covertness-outage risk can yield large throughput gains, while aggressive optimization may break covertness outside sparse-transmission regimes. Monte Carlo results under log-normal fading and stochastic thermal noise show that the framework expands feasible operating regions, improves covert throughput by more than an order of magnitude, and identifies degradation boundaries beyond which covert operation becomes unreliable. These results move CQC closer to realistic secure quantum networking for free-space, satellite, and low-probability-of-detection applications.
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All authors Abbas Arghavani, Shahid Raza, Maryam Amiri, Alessandro Papadopoulos

Quantum Physics

Non-Stationary Decoherence in Superconducting Qubits: Memory Multi-Fractional Brownian Motion and a Time-Dependent Quantum Brownian Motion Extension

Building upon our prior work [1], we present a unified stochastic drift model (SdM) for superconducting charge qubits based on memory multi-fractional Brownian motion (mmFBM). The classical sector employs a time-dependent Hurst exponent H(t) and adaptive memory kernel K(t,s), capturing non-stationary 1/f^beta noise and long-range temporal correlations inaccessible to conventional models. The quantum extension is formulated via a time-dependent Caldeira–Leggett environment with spectral density J(omega;t) = eta(t) omega_c^{1-s(t)} omega^{s(t)} exp(-omega/omega_c), where s(t) = 2H(t)-1, consistently reproducing beta(t) = 2H(t)-1. Four central results emerge: (1) relaxation and noise amplitudes act independently on energy decay; (2) time-varying H(t) matches experimental 1/f spectra more accurately than any constant exponent; (3) adaptive kernel dynamics preserve correlations without artificial damping; and (4) simulations predict coherence times (T1 ~ 5.00 x 10^6 ns, T2 ~ 4.18 x 10^5 ns) consistent with theory when charge noise dominates. The qubit exhibits stretched-exponential Ramsey and echo decay, non-Markovian dephasing, and a temperature-driven quantum-to-classical crossover. We derive the effective time-local Lindblad master equation, establish the classical mmFBM limit at high temperatures, and provide experimentally testable scaling relations. The non-exponential decay patterns reveal fundamental limitations of Markovian approaches, and the framework guides the design of noise-resilient qubit architectures.
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Quantum Physics

Quantum Shannon theory made robust: a tale of three protocols for almost i.i.d. sources

The asymptotic rates of information-theoretic protocols - including error exponents, data-compression rates, and channel capacities - are traditionally derived under the idealised assumption that the underlying resources are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.). Somewhat surprisingly, even slight departures from the exact i.i.d. structure can drastically alter the asymptotic behaviour predicted by the i.i.d. theory. If the precise nature of the perturbation is known, for instance in the case of a pointwise defect, one can design a bespoke protocol that compensates for it, e.g. by discarding the corrupted subsystem. In realistic physical settings, however, exact i.i.d. behaviour cannot be guaranteed, and deviations from the ideal regime cannot generally be identified precisely. This raises a fundamental question: which notions of almost i.i.d. structure are sufficiently robust to preserve the asymptotic predictions of quantum Shannon theory? We investigate this question for three central information-theoretic tasks: asymmetric hypothesis testing, classical and quantum data compression, and classical communication through quantum channels. Rather than designing protocols tailored to specific defects, we seek robust protocols that remain asymptotically optimal and that are universal within a broad class of almost i.i.d. resources whose precise deviations from the ideal regime are unknown. To this end, we study three inequivalent notions of almost i.i.d. structure, and determine which of them preserve the asymptotic rates and error exponents predicted by the i.i.d. theory. Along the way, we introduce the notion of an almost i.i.d. process and a new distance measure between quantum channels - the club distance - designed to capture stability under local perturbations. These notions may be of independent interest.
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All authors Filippo Girardi, Nilanjana Datta, Giacomo De Palma, Ludovico Lami

Quantum Physics

Detecting nonclassicality in randomly-displaced copies of a squeezed state

We address a fundamental question: Can one determine whether a received signal is squeezed when each copy arrives with a different displacement/amplitude? We introduce an interaction Hamiltonian that converts quadrature squeezing into number squeezing. Using this conversion, we test whether the copies satisfy $g^{(2)}(0)<1$. The Hamiltonian itself does not create nonclassicality; it only transfers it from quadrature squeezing to number squeezing. This allows us to identify squeezing even when individual copies have random displacements.
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Quantum Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.quant-gas

Can machine learning for quantum-gas experiments be explainable?

Virtually all aspects of many-body atomic physics are challenging: experiments are technically demanding, datasets have become enormous, and the memory and CPU requirements for classical simulation of generic quantum systems often scale exponentially with system size. Machine learning (ML) methods are already assisting in each of these areas and are poised to become transformative. Here, we focus on two specific applications of ML to cold-atom-based quantum simulators. These devices generally generate data in the form of images; we first showcase denoising of raw images and then identify solitonic waves in Bose-Einstein condensates. In both of these examples, we comment on the interplay between performance, model complexity, and interpretability.
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