Condensed Matter

Symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases are short-range entanglement (SRE) quantum states which cannot be adiabatically connected to trivial product states in the presence of symmetries. Recently, it is shown that symmetry-protected short-range entanglement can still prevail even if part of the protecting symmetry is broken by quenched disorder locally but restored upon disorder averaging, dubbed as the average symmetry-protected topological (ASPT) phases. In this talk, I will systematically construct the ASPT phases as a mixed ensemble or density matrix, which may not be realized in a clean system without any disorder. I will also design the strange correlator of the ASPT phases via a strange density matrix to detect the nontrivial ASPT state. Moreover, it is amazing that the strange correlator of ASPT can be precisely mapped to the loop correlation functions of some proper statistical loop models, with power-law behaviors.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/91672345456?pwd=N0dNQXNmVVoybnNxYXJuWnVRME8rUT09

I will talk about the generalization of Berry classes for quantum lattice spin systems. It defines invariants of topologically ordered states or families thereof. In particular, its equivariant version for 2d gapped states gives the zero-temperature Hall conductance and its various generalizations. I will also discuss the construction of chiral states realizing the topological order associated with a unitary rational vertex operator algebra for which these invariants are non-trivial

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/99910103969?pwd=VlVHVGRiV29iVEFyTXZyR3ovMkRaQT09

The multipartite entanglement structure for the ground states of two dimensional topological phases is an interesting albeit not well understood question. Utilizing the bulk-boundary correspondence, the tripartite entanglement calculation of 2d topological phases can be reduced to that on the vertex state, defined by the boundary conditions at the interfaces between spatial regions. In this work, we use the conformal interface technique to calculate the entanglement measures of the vertex state, which include the area-law, geometrical and topological pieces, and the possible extra order one contribution. This explains our previous observation of Markov gap h=\frac{c}{3}\ln 2 in the 3-vertex state, and generalizes it to the p-vertex state as well as rational conformal field theory, and more general choices of subsystem. Finally, we support our prediction by numerical evidence. 

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93914854044?pwd=eWl3eGVLU25XUGhKbnFRSm5ab0JuUT09

We construct an exactly solvable lattice model for a deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP) in (1+1) dimensions. This DQCP occurs in an unusual setting, namely at the edge of a (2+1) dimensional bosonic symmetry protected topological phase (SPT) with ℤ2×ℤ2 symmetry. The DQCP describes a transition between two gapped edges that break different ℤ2 subgroups of the full ℤ2×ℤ2 symmetry. Our construction is based on an exact mapping between the SPT edge theory and a ℤ4 spin chain. This mapping reveals that DQCPs in this system are directly related to ordinary ℤ4 symmetry breaking critical points. Based on arXiv:2206.01222.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93794543360?pwd=Y3lidGZhRFNrUjEyMVpaNEgwTnE3QT09

QuEra is a quantum computing start up located in Boston, spinning off from the groups in the physics and engineering departments of Harvard and MIT. I have spent this fall working at QuEra and will introduce you to the company and its neutral-atom quantum computing technology.

"Motivated by applications in machine learning, we present a quantum algorithm for Gibbs sampling from continuous real-valued functions defined on high dimensional tori. We show that these families of functions satisfy a Poincare inequality. We then use the techniques for solving linear systems and partial differential equations to design an algorithm that performs zeroeth order queries to a quantum oracle computing the energy function to return samples from its Gibbs distribution. We further analyze the query and gate complexity of our algorithm and prove that the algorithm has a polylogarithmic dependence on approximation error (in total variation distance) and a polynomial dependence on the number of variables, although it suffers from an exponentially poor dependence on temperature."

I will present recent progress in building a rigorous theory to understand how scientists, machines, and future quantum computers could learn models of our quantum universe. The talk will begin with an experimentally feasible procedure for converting a quantum many-body system into a succinct classical description of the system, its classical shadow. Classical shadows can be applied to efficiently predict many properties of interest, including expectation values of local observables and few-body correlation functions. I will then build on the classical shadow formalism to answer two fundamental questions at the intersection of machine learning and quantum physics: Can classical machines learn to solve challenging problems in quantum physics? And can quantum machines learn exponentially faster than classical machines?

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/97994359596?pwd=UlBwc2hoSkNzWlZvM1o1RWErU1U2QT09

The Floquet code implements a periodic sequence of two-qubit measurements to realize the topological order. After each measurement round, the instantaneous stabilizer group can be mapped to a honeycomb toric code, thus explaining the topological feature. However, the code also possesses a time-crystal order distinct from a stationary toric code – an e-m exchange after every cycle. In this work, we construct a continuous path interpolating between the Floquet and toric codes, focusing on the transition between the time-crystal and non-time crystal phases. We show that this transition is characterized by a diverging length scale. We also add single qubit noise to the model and obtain a two-dimensional parametric phase diagram of the Floquet code.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/95933569447?pwd=UkcrVHdkWERTNVIrcXdCREQ3Y1JUZz09

The backbones of modern-day Deep Learning, Neural Networks (NN), define field theories on Euclidean background through their architectures, where field interaction strengths depend on the choice of NN architecture width and stochastic parameters. Infinite width limit of NN architectures, combined with independently distributed stochastic parameters, lead to generalized free field theories by the Central Limit Theorem (CLT). Small and large deviations from the CLT, due to finite architecture width and/or correlated stochastic parameters, respectively give rise to weakly coupled field theories and non-perturbative non-Lagrangian field theories in Neural Networks. I will present a systematic exploration of Neural Network field theories via a dual framework of NN parameters: non-Gaussianity, locality by cluster decomposition, and symmetries are studied without necessitating the knowledge of an action. Such a dual description to statistical or quantum field theories in Neural Networks can have potential implications for physics.