Talks

The recent advancement of machine learning provides new opportunities for tackling challenges in quantum science, ranging from condensed matter physics, high energy physics to quantum information science. In this talk, I will first discuss a class of anti-symmetric wave functions based on neural network backflow,  which is efficient for simulating strongly-correlated lattice models and artificial quantum materials. Next, I will talk about recent progress of simulating continuum quantum field theories with neural quantum field state, and lattice gauge theories such as 2+1D quantum electrodynamics with finite density dynamical fermions using gauge symmetric neural networks. I will further discuss neural network representation based on positive-value-operator and phase space measurements for quantum dynamics simulations. Finally, I will present applications of machine learning in quantum control, quantum optimization and quantum machine learning.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93834456412?pwd=R0hxdEpxanFFRnZmTHlqZTBXRi82QT09

I will describe a general categorical approach to constructing Hamiltonian actions on moduli spaces. In particular cases, this specializes to give a ``universal" Hitchin integrable system as well as the Calogero-Moser system.  Moreover, I will describe a generalization to higher dimensions of a classical result of Goldman which says that the Goldman Lie algebra of free loops on a surface acts by Hamiltonian vector fields on the character variety of the surface.  A key input is a description of deformations of Calabi-Yau structures, which is of independent interest. This is joint work with Chris Brav.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/92929253744?pwd=WGFNQmRJck5NdzFFdU8xcXRlN3RRQT09

The geometry of kilonovae is a key diagnostic of the physics of merging neutron stars with current hydrodynamical merger models typically showing aspherical ejecta. Previously, Sr II was identified in the spectrum of the only well-studied kilonova AT2017gfo, associated with the gravitational wave event GW170817. In this talk, we show that combining the strong Sr II P Cygni absorption-emission spectral feature and the blackbody nature of the kilonova spectrum, to determine that the kilonova is highly spherical at early epochs. Line shape analysis combined with the known inclination angle of the source also shows the same sphericity independently. The near-spherical geometry suggests early spectra of kilonovae may provide excellent precision cosmic distance measurements using the Expanding Photosphere Method.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/97287055430?pwd=bFVyeTRuZHVLcGlDdnhlK1d0OWE1Zz09

There is a by now standard procedure for calculating twisted spin, spin^c, and string bordism groups for applications in physics: realize the twist as arising from a vector bundle, which allows one to split the corresponding Thom spectrum and greatly simplify the Adams spectral sequence computation. Not all twists arise from vector bundles, but Matthew Yu and I noticed that if you ignore this fact and pretend that everything is OK, you still get the right answer! In this talk, I'll discuss a theorem Matthew and I proved explaining this, by calculating the input to Baker-Lazarev's version of the Adams spectral sequence. Then I will discuss applications to anomalies of some quantum field theories and supergravity theories.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93508575689?pwd=YVV6VlRwL1RGSG55V0cwTzdpUWROUT09

In this colloquium, I will review how the notion of quantum error-correction has transformed our understanding of quantum gravity in the past decade.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/94349082665?pwd=OFdJdkpHU1NEcmlNeW5pWlg4WmNBZz09

Scattering amplitudes are where quantum field theory directly meets collider experiments.  An excellent model for scattering in QCD is provided by N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory, particularly in the planar limit of a large number of colors, where the theory becomes integrable.  The first nontrivial amplitude in this theory is for 6 gluons.  It can be computed to 7 loops using a bootstrap based on the rigidity of the function space of multiple polylogarithms, together with a few other conditions.  One can also bootstrap a particular form factor, for the chiral stress-tensor operator to produce 3 gluons, through 8 loops.  This form factor is the N=4 analog of the LHC process, gluon gluon --> Higgs + gluon. Remarkably, the two sets of results are related by a mysterious `antipodal' duality, which exchanges the role of branch cuts and derivatives.  Furthermore, this duality is `explained' by an antipodal self-duality of the 4 gluon form factor of the same operator; although it is still fair to say of the self-duality, `who ordered that?'

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96265005656?pwd=Qndza3pIKzdmZVJGL0s1ZUZkRmp4QT09