Free Fermions Research Articles

Probing Infinite Many-Body Quantum Systems with Finite-Size Quantum Simulators

Experimental studies of synthetic quantum matter are necessarily restricted to approximate ground states prepared on finite-size quantum simulators. In general, this limits their reliability for strongly correlated systems, for instance, in the vicinity of a quantum phase transition (QPT). Here, we propose a protocol that makes optimal use of a given finite-size simulator by directly preparing, on its bulk region, a mixed state representing the reduced density operator of the translation-invariant infinite-sized system of interest. This protocol is based on coherent evolution with a local deformation of the system Hamiltonian. For systems of free fermions in one and two spatial dimensions, we illustrate and explain the underlying physics, which consists of quasi-particle transport towards the system's boundaries while retaining the bulk "vacuum". For the example of a non-integrable extended Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, we demonstrate that our protocol enables a more accurate study of QPTs. In addition, we demonstrate the protocol for an interacting spinful Fermi-Hubbard model with doping for 1D chains and a small two-leg ladder, where the initial state is a random superposition of energetically low-lying states.

PARAMETRIZED EIGHT-VERTEX MODEL AND KNOT INVARIANT

The article discusses and expands the known elements of the eight-vertex model, paying special attention to the parameterization of the matrix. The matrix values are interconnected with the knot through the braids and this model is valid on finite square lattices in two-dimensional space. A new solution of the parametrized eight-vertex model of free fermions with a complex version of elliptic functions, which is valid on a finite lattice, will be constructed. The range of applicability of the eight-vertex model with elements of the Jacobi elliptic function and the construction of a knot invariant on its basis is discussed by comparing the results obtained analytically for the model. The construction of the knot invariant using the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and the main tool of statistical mechanics of the Yang-Baxter equation will be studied in detail

Exact solution of the “Rule 150” reversible cellular automaton

We study the dynamics and statistics of the Rule 150 reversible cellular automaton (RCA). This is a one-dimensional lattice system of binary variables with synchronous (Floquet) dynamics that corresponds to a bulk deterministic and reversible discretized version of the kinetically constrained "exclusive one-spin facilitated" (XOR) Fredrickson-Andersen (FA) model, where the local dynamics is restricted: A site flips if and only if its adjacent sites are in different states from each other. Similar to other RCA that have been recently studied, such as Rule 54 and Rule 201, the Rule 150 RCA is integrable, however, in contrast is noninteracting: The emergent quasiparticles, which are identified by the domain walls, behave as free fermions. This property allows us to solve the model by means of matrix product ansatz. In particular, we find the exact equilibrium and nonequilibrium stationary states for systems with closed (periodic) and open (stochastic) boundaries, respectively, resolve the full spectrum of the time evolution operator and, therefore, gain access to the relaxation dynamics, and obtain the exact large deviation statistics of dynamical observables in the long-time limit.

Exploring physical features of anisotropic quark stars in Brans-Dicke theory with a massive scalar field via embedding approach * *Supported by the Postdoctoral Fellowship at Zhejiang Normal University (ZC304022919)

The main aim of this study is to explore the existence and salient features of spherically symmetric relativistic quark stars in the background of massive Brans-Dicke gravity. The exact solutions to the modified Einstein field equations are derived for specific forms of coupling and scalar field functions using the equation of state relating to the strange quark matter that stimulates the phenomenological MIT-Bag model as a free Fermi gas of quarks. We use a well-behaved function along with the Karmarkar condition for class-one embedding as well as junction conditions to determine the unknown metric tensors. The radii of strange compact stars viz., PSR J1416-2230, PSR J1903+327, 4U 1820-30, CenX-3, and EXO1785-248, are predicted via their observed mass for different values of the massive Brans-Dicke parameters. We explore the influences of the mass of scalar field , coupling parameter , and bag constant on state determinants and perform several tests on the viability and stability of the constructed stellar model. Conclusively, we find that our stellar system is physically viable and stable as it satisfies all the energy conditions and necessary stability criteria under the influence of a gravitational scalar field.

Free-Fermion Multiply Excited Eigenstates and Their Experimental Signatures in 1D Arrays of Two-Level Atoms.

One-dimensional (1D) subwavelength atom arrays display multiply excited subradiant eigenstates which are reminiscent of free fermions. So far, these states have been associated with subradiant states with decay rates ∝N^{-3}, with N the number of atoms, which fundamentally prevents detection of their fermionic features by optical means. In this Letter, we show that free-fermion states generally appear whenever the band of singly excited states has a quadratic dispersion relation at the band edge and, hence, may also be obtained with radiant and even superradiant states. 1D arrays have free-fermion multiply excited eigenstates that are typically either subradiant or (super)radiant, and we show that a simple transformation acts between the two families. Based on this correspondence, we propose different means for their preparation and analyze their experimental signature in optical detection.

Finite dimensional systems of free fermions and diffusion processes on spin groups

In this article, we are concerned with “finite dimensional fermions,” by which we mean vectors in a finite dimensional complex space embedded in the exterior algebra over itself. These fermions are spinless but possess the characterizing anticommutativity property. We associate invariant complex vector fields on the Lie group Spin(2n + 1) to the fermionic creation and annihilation operators. These vector fields are elements of the complexification of the regular representation of the Lie algebra so(2n+1). As such, they do not satisfy the canonical anticommutation relations; however, once they have been projected onto an appropriate subspace of L2(Spin(2n + 1)), these relations are satisfied. We define a free time evolution of this system of fermions in terms of a symmetric positive-definite quadratic form in the creation–annihilation operators. The realization of fermionic creation and annihilation operators brought by the (invariant) vector fields allows us to interpret this time evolution in terms of a positive self-adjoint operator that is the sum of a second order operator, which generates a stochastic diffusion process, and a first order complex operator, which strongly commutes with the second order operator. A probabilistic interpretation is given in terms of a Feynman–Kac-like formula with respect to the diffusion process associated with the second order operator.

Phase Diagram of 1+1D Abelian-Higgs Model and Its Critical Point.

We determine the phase diagram of the Abelian-Higgs model in one spatial dimension and time (1+1D) on a lattice. We identify a line of first order phase transitions separating the Higgs region from the confined one. This line terminates in a quantum critical point above which the two regions are connected by a smooth crossover. We analyze the critical point and find compelling evidence for its description as the product of two noninteracting systems: a massless free fermion and a massless free boson. However, we find also some surprising results that cannot be explained by our simple picture, suggesting this newly discovered critical point is an unusual one.

Supersymmetric free fermions and bosons: Locality, symmetry, and topology

Supersymmetry, originally proposed in particle physics, refers to a dual relation that connects fermionic and bosonic degrees of freedom in a system. Recently, there has been considerable interest in applying the idea of supersymmetry to topological phases, motivated by the attempt to gain insights from the fermion side into the boson side and vice versa. We present a systematic study of this construction when applied to band topology in noninteracting systems. First, on top of the conventional ten-fold way, we find that topological insulators and superconductors are divided into three classes depending on whether the supercharge can be local and symmetric, must break a symmetry to preserve locality, or needs to break locality. Second, we resolve the apparent paradox between the nontriviality of free fermions and the triviality of free bosons by noting that the topological information is encoded in the identification map. We also discuss how to understand a recently revealed supersymmetric entanglement duality in this context. These findings are illustrated by prototypical examples. Our work sheds new light on band topology from the perspective of supersymmetry.

Quantum phases of two-dimensional Z2 gauge theory coupled to single-component fermion matter

We investigate the rich quantum phase diagram of Wegner's theory of discrete Ising gauge fields interacting with $U(1)$ symmetric single-component fermion matter hopping on a two-dimensional square lattice. In particular limits the model reduces to (i) pure $\mathbb{Z}_2$ even and odd gauge theories, (ii) free fermions in a static background of deconfined $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge fields, (iii) the kinetic Rokhsar-Kivelson quantum dimer model at a generic dimer filling. We develop a local transformation that maps the lattice gauge theory onto a model of $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge-invariant spin $1/2$ degrees of freedom. Using the mapping, we perform numerical density matrix renormalization group calculations that corroborate our understanding of the limits identified above. Moreover, in the absence of the magnetic plaquette term, we reveal signatures of topologically ordered Dirac semimetal and staggered Mott insulator phases at half-filling. At strong coupling, the lattice gauge theory displays fracton phenomenology with isolated fermions being completely frozen and dimers exhibiting restricted mobility. In that limit, we predict that in the ground state dimers form compact clusters, whose hopping is suppressed exponentially in their size. We determine the band structure of the smallest clusters numerically using exact diagonalization. The rich phenomenology discussed in this paper can be probed in analog and digital quantum simulators of discrete gauge theories and in Kitaev spin-orbital liquids.

Characterizing bulk-boundary correspondence of one-dimensional non-Hermitian interacting systems by edge entanglement entropy

Dramatically different from the Hermitian systems, the conventional Bulk-Boundary Correspondence (BBC) is broken in the non-Hermitian systems. In this article, we use edge entanglement entropy to characterize the topological properties of non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Hubbard model. For free Fermions, we study the scaling behavior of entanglement entropy and demonstrate that the edge entanglement entropy is a good indicator to delimit different phases of non-Hermitian systems. We further generalize the edge entanglement entropy to the non-Hermitian interacting Hubbard chain, and obtain the topological phase diagram in the plane of interaction and non-Hermitian hopping amplitudes. It is found that the Hubbard interaction diminishes and weakens the breakdown of Bulk-Boundary Correspondence, which eventually disappears at some critical value of interaction.

Constraining momentum space CFT correlators with consistent position space OPE limit and the collider bound

Consistency with position space OPE limit requires three-point momentum space CFT correlators to have only total energy singularity. We show that this requirement gives a simple proof of the known result that in three dimensions the parity-odd structure cannot exist for three-point correlators of exactly conserved currents with spins si, sj, sk, when triangle inequality si ≤ sj + sk is violated. We also show that even for parity even correlation functions the properties are different inside and outside the triangle. It was previously shown that if we allow for weakly broken higher spin symmetry, parity-odd correlators can exist even when triangle inequality is violated. In this paper we establish a relation between non-conservation Ward-Takahashi (WT) identities for weakly broken currents at large N and the WT identities for exactly conserved currents with the help of a few examples. This allows us to calculate the parity violating results outside the triangle using parity-even free bosonic and free fermionic results.In general, there is one parity-odd structure and two parity-even structures for three-point functions. It can be shown that the coefficient of one of the parity-even and odd parts can be combined into a complex parameter c when correlators are expressed in spinor-helicity variables. When this complex parameter takes real value c = ±1 it corresponds to either the free boson or free fermion theory. When c is a pure phase, it corresponds to Chern-Simons matter theories. Furthermore, re-expressing known results for conformal collider bounds we see that |c| ≤ 1 for generic 3d CFTs and |c| ≤ f(∆gap) for holographic CFTs.

Weyl anomalies of four dimensional conformal boundaries and defects

Motivated by questions about quantum information and classification of quantum field theories, we consider Conformal Field Theories (CFTs) in spacetime dimension d ≥ 5 with a conformally-invariant spatial boundary (BCFTs) or 4-dimensional conformal defect (DCFTs). We determine the boundary or defect contribution to the Weyl anomaly using the standard algorithm, which includes imposing Wess-Zumino consistency and fixing finite counterterms. These boundary/defect contributions are built from the intrinsic and extrinsic curvatures, as well as the pullback of the ambient CFT’s Weyl tensor. For a co-dimension one boundary or defect (i.e. d = 5), we reproduce the 9 parity-even terms found by Astaneh and Solodukhin, and we discover 3 parity-odd terms. For larger co-dimension, we find 23 parity-even terms and 6 parity-odd terms. The coefficient of each term defines a “central charge” that characterizes the BCFT or DCFT. We show how several of the parity-even central charges enter physical observables, namely the displacement operator two-point function, the stress-tensor one-point function, and the universal part of the entanglement entropy. We compute several parity-even central charges in tractable examples: monodromy and conical defects of free, massless scalars and Dirac fermions in d = 6; probe branes in Anti-de Sitter (AdS) space dual to defects in CFTs with d ≥ 6; and Takayanagi’s AdS/BCFT with d = 5. We demonstrate that several of our examples obey the boundary/defect a-theorem, as expected.

Entanglement entropy of a superflow

We consider the theory of N free Dirac fermions with a uniformly winding mass, meiqx, in two spacetime dimensions. This theory (which describes for instance a superconducting current in an N-channel wire) has been proposed to have a higher-spin gravity with scalar matter as the large-N dual. To order m2, however, thermodynamic quantities in it can be computed using standard general relativity instead. Here, we consider the question if the same is true for the entanglement entropy (EE). By comparing results obtained on two sides of the duality, we find that general relativity indeed accounts correctly for the EE of an interval to order m2 (and all orders in q).

Dynamical quantum phase transition in XY chains with the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya and XZY–YZX three-site interactions

We study the dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs) in the XY chains with the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction and the XZY–YZX type of three-site interaction after a sudden quench. Both the models can be mapped to the spinless free fermion models by the Jordan–Wigner and Bogoliubov transformations with the form , where the quasiparticle excitation spectra εk may be smaller than 0 for some k and are asymmetrical (εk ≠ ε –k ). It is found that the factors of Loschmidt echo equal 1 for some k corresponding to the quasiparticle excitation spectra of the pre-quench Hamiltonian satisfying εk ⋅ ε –k < 0, when the quench is from the gapless phase. By considering the quench from different ground states, we obtain the conditions for the occurrence of DQPTs for the general XY chains with gapless phase, and find that the DQPTs may not occur in the quench across the quantum phase transitions regardless of whether the quench is from the gapless phase to gapped phase or from the gapped phase to gapless phase. This is different from the DQPTs in the case of quench from the gapped phase to gapped phase, in which the DQPTs will always appear. Moreover, we analyze the different reasons for the absence of DQPTs in the quench from the gapless phase and the gapped phase. The conclusion can also be extended to the general quantum spin chains.

Measurement-Induced Dark State Phase Transitions in Long-Ranged Fermion Systems.

We identify an unconventional algebraic scaling phase in the quantum dynamics of long-range hopping, free fermions, which are exposed to continuous local measurements. The algebraic phase occurs for hopping decay exponents 1<p≲3/2, and features an algebraic entanglement entropy growth, and a slow algebraic decay of the density-density correlation function, both with a fractional exponent. It is separated from a critical phase with logarithmic entanglement growth at small, and an area law phase with constant entanglement entropy at large monitoring rates. A perturbative renormalization group analysis predicts that the transitions to the long-range phase correspond to an unconventional, modified sine-Gordon theory. Exact numerical simulations of the monitored wave functions are in excellent agreement with an analytical replica field theory approach, which confirms the view of the measurement-induced phase transition as a quantum phase transition in the dark state of an effective, non-Hermitian Hamiltonian.

Conserved quantities from entanglement Hamiltonian

We show that the subregion entanglement Hamiltonians of excited eigenstates of a quantum many-body system are approximately linear combinations of subregionally (quasi)local approximate conserved quantities, with relative commutation errors $\mathcal{O}\left(\frac{\text{subregion boundary area}}{\text{subregion volume}}\right)$. By diagonalizing an entanglement Hamiltonian superdensity matrix (EHSM) for an ensemble of eigenstates, we can obtain these conserved quantities as the EHSM eigen-operators with nonzero eigenvalues. For free fermions, we find the number of nonzero EHSM eigenvalues is cut off around the order of subregion volume, and some of their EHSM eigen-operators can be rather nonlocal, although subregionally quasilocal. In the interacting XYZ model, we numerically find the nonzero EHSM eigenvalues decay roughly in power law if the system is integrable, with the exponent $s\approx 1$ ($s\approx 1.5\sim 2$) if the eigenstates are extended (many-body localized). For fully chaotic systems, only two EHSM eigenvalues are significantly nonzero, the eigen-operators of which correspond to the identity and the subregion Hamiltonian.

Topological quantum critical points in strong coupling limits: Global symmetries and strongly interacting Majorana fermions

In this paper, we discuss strong coupling limits of topological quantum critical points (TQCPs) where quantum phase transitions between two topological distinct superconducting states take place. We illustrate that while superconducting phases on both sides of TQCPs spontaneously break the same symmetries, universality classes of critical states can be identified only when global symmetries in topological states are further specified. In dimensions $d=2\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}\text{and}\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}3$, we find that continuous $(d+1)\mathrm{th}$-order transitions at weakly interacting TQCPs that were pointed out previously in the presence of the emergent Lorentz symmetry can be terminated by strongly interacting fixed points of Majorana fields. For $2d$ time reversal symmetry breaking TQCPs, termination points are supersymmetric with $\mathcal{N}=4{N}_{f}=1$ (where ${N}_{f}$ is the number of four-component Dirac fermions and $\mathcal{N}$ is the number of two-component real fermions) beyond which transitions are discontinuous first-order ones. For $2d$ time reversal symmetric TQCPs without other global symmetries, termination points of $(d+1)\mathrm{th}$-order continuous transition lines are generically conformal invariant without supersymmetry. Beyond these strong coupling fixed points, there are first-order discontinuous transitions as far as the protecting symmetry is not spontaneously broken but no direct transitions if the protecting symmetry is spontaneously broken in the presence of strong interactions. In this case, termination points can become supersymmetric with $\mathcal{N}=4{N}_{f}=2$ only when interacting Majorana fermions further display an emergent global $\text{U}(1)$ symmetry. In $3d$, strong coupling termination points can be further effectively represented by new emergent gapless real bosons weakly coupled with free gapless Majorana fermions. However, in $1d$, time reversal symmetric $(d+1)\mathrm{th}$ continuous transition lines of TQCPs are terminated by simple free Majorana fermion fixed points.

Ephemeral islands, plunging quantum extremal surfaces and BCFT channels

We consider entanglement entropies of finite spatial intervals in Minkowski radiation baths coupled to the eternal black hole in JT gravity, and the related problem involving free fermion BCFT in the thermofield double state. We show that the non-monotonic entropy evolution in the black hole problem precisely matches that of the free fermion theory in a high temperature limit, and the results have the form expected for CFTs with quasiparticle description. Both exhibit rich behaviour that involves at intermediate times, an entropy saddle with an island in the former case, and in the latter a special class of disconnected OPE channels. The quantum extremal surfaces start inside the horizon, but can emerge from and plunge back inside as time evolves, accompanied by a characteristic dip in the entropy also seen in the free fermion BCFT. Finally an entropy equilibrium is reached with a no-island saddle.

Experimental synthesis of borophene

As the lightest two-dimensional material discovered so far, borophene exhibits rich physical properties, including high flexibility, optical transparency, high thermal conductivity, one-dimensional nearly free electron gas, Dirac fermions, and superconductivity. However, due to the strong interlayer covalent bonding force of bulk boron, it is difficult to obtain the monolayer borophene via mechanical exfoliation. In addition, due to the electron-deficient property of boron atoms, its chemical properties are relatively active, and its bonding is complex, resulting in different boron allotropes, which is different from other two-dimensional materials. For a long time, the research on borophene has been limited to theoretical exploration, and it has been difficult to make breakthroughs in the experimental synthesis of two-dimensional borophene. It has been only successfully prepared by a few research groups in recent years. However, there is still huge space for exploration on the growth, structure and electronic properties of borophene. This paper systematically reviews the preparation methods and different structures of borophene under different substrates, and its growth mechanism is discussed. It provides a research platform for further expanding the physical properties of borophene, and provides ideas for exploring the preparation of borophene nanodevices. It has great potential application prospects in high energy storage, optoelectronic devices, high detection sensitivity, and flexible nanodevices.

From 2d droplets to 2d Yang-Mills

We establish a connection between time evolution of free Fermi droplets and partition function of generalised q-deformed Yang-Mills theories on Riemann surfaces. Classical phases of (0+1) dimensional unitary matrix models can be characterised by free Fermi droplets in two dimensions. We quantise these droplets and find that the modes satisfy an abelian Kac-Moody algebra. The Hilbert spaces H+ and H− associated with the upper and lower free Fermi surfaces of a droplet admit a Young diagram basis in which the phase space Hamiltonian is diagonal with eigenvalue, in the large N limit, equal to the quadratic Casimir of u(N). We establish an exact mapping between states in H± and geometries of droplets. In particular, coherent states in H± correspond to classical deformation of upper and lower Fermi surfaces. We prove that correlation between two coherent states in H± is equal to the chiral and anti-chiral partition function of 2d Yang-Mills theory on a cylinder. Using the fact that the full Hilbert space H+⊗H− admits a composite basis, we show that correlation between two classical droplet geometries is equal to the full U(N) Yang-Mills partition function on cylinder. We further establish a connection between higher point correlators in H± and higher point correlators in 2d Yang-Mills on Riemann surface. There are special states in H± whose transition amplitudes are equal to the partition function of 2d q-deformed Yang-Mills and in general character expansion of Villain action. We emphasise that the q-deformation in the Yang-Mills side is related to special deformation of droplet geometries without deforming the gauge group associated with the matrix model.