arXiv subjects

Alexander Wietek

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Wietek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Field-induced states and thermodynamics of the frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a square lattice

We investigate the ground-state and finite-temperature properties of the $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the square lattice in the presence of an external magnetic field. We focus on the highly frustrated regime around $J_2 \approx J_1/2$. The $h$-$T$ phase diagram is investigated with particular emphasis on the finite-temperature transition into the "up-up-up-down" state that is stabilized by thermal and quantum fluctuations and manifests itself as a plateau at one half of the saturation magnetization in the quantum case. We also discuss the enhanced magnetocaloric effect associated to the ground-state degeneracy that arises at the saturation field for $J_2=J_1/2$. For reference, we first study the classical case by classical Monte Carlo simulations. Then we turn to the extreme quantum limit of spin-1/2 where we perform zero- and finite-temperature Lanczos calculations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Electronic Green's function across the pseudogap to stripe transition in the $t$-$t'$-$J$ model

Superconducting domes in strongly correlated electronic systems are often accompanied by charge density waves and peculiar features in the electronic structure. The appearance of a pseudogap, in particular, and its relation to charge density waves remains insufficiently understood. Here, we investigate the electronic Green's function of the underdoped $t$-$t'$-$J$ model of the cuprate superconductors using tensor network algorithms for finite temperature dynamics on cylinders of width $4$. We find the prominent momentum differentiation, the hallmark of the pseudogap, to be strongly dependent on $t'$, which develops into a momentum-dependent opening of a gap upon decreasing temperature, consistent with the formation of a Fermi arc at intermediate temperatures. The nodal gap around ${\bf k}=(π/2,π/2)$ closes and fills with increasing temperature as coherent stripe order melts into a regime of fluctuating charge clusters.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Incommensurate Spin-Density Waves in a Frustrated Maple-Leaf Lattice Ferromagnet

We study how ferromagnetism breaks down in the spin-$\tfrac12$ nearest-neighbor Heisenberg model on the maple-leaf lattice with ferromagnetic $J_t,J_d$ and antiferromagnetic $J_h$, motivated by the mixed ferro-antiferromagnetic interactions in Na$_2$Mn$_3$O$_7$. Exact diagonalization shows that the ferromagnetic boundary does not feature a zero-field spin-nematic phase on the clusters studied here, but an extended regime of incommensurate spin-density-wave correlations with continuously evolving ordering vector. The phase diagram also contains collinear Néel, canted $120^\circ$, and hexagonal-singlet regimes, separated by regions that remain difficult to classify from exact diagonalization alone. Variational tests of fully symmetric Gutzwiller-projected Abrikosov-fermion U(1) and $\mathbb{Z}_2$ states find no competitive spin-liquid description of the interior unresolved regions. By contrast, on the ruby-lattice boundary we identify a point between the collinear Néel and hexagonal-singlet phases where a projected $\mathbb{Z}_2$ Ansatz reproduces the finite-size energy and spin correlations with good accuracy.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Thermodynamics of the Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the maple-leaf lattice

We study the Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the maple-leaf lattice using several numerical approaches, focusing on the numerical linked-cluster expansion (NLCE), which exhibits an unconventional convergence extending to low and even zero temperatures. We evaluate thermodynamic properties as well as spin-spin correlations through the equal-time structure factor. Within NLCE the specific heat capacity reveals a two-peak structure at $T_1 \approx 0.479\,J$ and $T_2 \approx 0.131\,J$, reminiscent of the corresponding result for the triangular lattice. At intermediate temperatures, the spin-spin structure factor develops features that reflect the absence of reflection symmetry in the lattice. The zero-temperature convergence of NLCE enables reliable estimates of the ground-state energy and points to a short-range correlated paramagnetic ground state composed of resonating hexagonal motifs. The NLCE results are benchmarked against Pseudo-Majorana Functional Renormalization Group, finite-temperature Lanczos, and classical Monte Carlo simulations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Evolution of superconductivity from charge clusters to stripes in the $t$-$t'$-$J$ model

Competition and coexistence of charge orders and superconductivity are hallmarks in many strongly correlated electron systems. Here, we unravel the precise role of charge fluctuations on the superconducting state in the $t$-$t'$-$J$ model of the high-temperature cuprate superconductors. Using finite-temperature tensor network simulations, we investigate thermal snapshots in the underdoped regime where the ground state features a superconducting stripe phase. At intermediate temperatures, where stripes have melted and hole clustering is observed, we find that pairing correlations are tightly localized on the hole clusters. Upon entering the stripe regime at lower temperatures, pairing increasingly delocalizes across different hole clusters to ultimately become coherent across the full system in the ground state. This pair-charge locking gives rise to an intuitive picture of the parent state of the superconducting stripe phase: pairing is localized on hole clusters formed via hole attraction due to the onset of magnetic correlations at intermediate temperature. We discuss how this microscopic picture is consistent with a broad range of experimental observations in cuprate superconductors, including scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) evidence for local pairing above $T_c$ and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signatures of charge clustering in the underdoped regime.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

XDiag: Exact Diagonalization for Quantum Many-Body Systems

Exact diagonalization (ED) is a cornerstone technique in quantum many-body physics, enabling precise solutions to the Schrödinger equation for interacting quantum systems. Despite its utility in studying ground states, excited states, and dynamical behaviors, the exponential growth of the Hilbert space with system size presents significant computational challenges. We introduce XDiag, an open-source software package designed to combine advanced and efficient algorithms for ED with and without symmetry-adapted bases with user-friendly interfaces. Implemented in C++ for computational efficiency and wrapped in Julia for ease of use, XDiag provides a comprehensive toolkit for ED calculations. Key features of XDiag include the first publicly accessible implementation of sublattice coding algorithms for large-scale spin system diagonalizations, efficient Lin table algorithms for symmetry lookups, and random-hashing techniques for distributed memory parallelization. The library supports various Hilbert space types (e.g., spin-1/2, electron, and t-J models), facilitates symmetry-adapted block calculations, and automates symmetry considerations. The package is complemented by extensive documentation, a user guide, reproducible benchmarks demonstrating near-linear scaling on thousands of CPU cores, and over 20 examples covering ground-state calculations, spectral functions, time evolution, and thermal states. By integrating high-performance computing with accessible scripting capabilities, XDiag allows researchers to perform state-of-the-art ED simulations and explore quantum many-body phenomena with unprecedented flexibility and efficiency.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Ab initio spin Hamiltonians and magnetism of Ce and Yb triangular-lattice compounds

We calculate the crystal-field splitting, ground-state Kramers doublet and intersite exchange interactions within the ground-state doublet manifold using an ab initio Hubbard-I based approach for a representative set of Ce and Yb triangular-lattice compounds. These include the putative quantum spin liquids (QSL) RbCeO$_2$ and YbZn$_2$GaO$_5$ and the antiferromagnets KCeO$_2$ and KCeS$_2$. The calculated nearest-neighbor (NN) couplings are antiferromagnetic and exhibit noticeable anisotropy. The next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) couplings are ferromagnetic in the Ce systems and dominated by classical dipole-dipole interactions in the Yb case. Solving the resulting effective spin-1/2 models by exact diagonalization up to $N=36$ sites, we predict ordered magnetic ground states for all systems, including the two QSL candidates. We explore the phase space of an anisotropic NN + isotropic NNN triangular-lattice model finding that a significant antiferromagnetic NNN coupling is required to stabilize QSL phases, while the NN exchange anisotropy is detrimental to them. Our findings highlight a possibly important role of deviations from the perfect triangular model - like atomic disorder - in real triangular-lattice materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Observation of emergent scaling of spin-charge correlations at the onset of the pseudogap

In strongly correlated materials, interacting electrons are entangled and form collective quantum states, resulting in rich low-temperature phase diagrams. Notable examples include cuprate superconductors, in which superconductivity emerges at low doping out of an unusual "pseudogap" metallic state above the critical temperature. The Fermi-Hubbard model, describing a wide range of phenomena associated with strong electron correlations, still offers major computational challenges despite its simple formulation. In this context, ultracold atoms quantum simulators have provided invaluable insights into the microscopic nature of correlated quantum states. Here, we use a quantum gas microscope Fermi-Hubbard simulator to explore a wide range of dopings and temperatures in a regime where a pseudogap is known to develop. By measuring multi-point correlation functions up to fifth order, we uncover a novel universal scaling behaviour in magnetic and higher-order spin-charge correlations characterised by a doping-dependent temperature scale. Accurate comparisons with determinant Quantum Monte Carlo and Minimally Entangled Typical Thermal States simulations confirm that this temperature scale is comparable to the pseudogap temperature T*. Our quantitative findings reveal a novel qualitative behaviour of magnetic properties and spin-charge correlations in an emergent pseudogap and pave the way towards the exploration of charge pairing and collective phenomena expected at lower temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Cooper Condensation and Pair Wave Functions in Strongly Correlated Electrons

Identifying superconducting states of matter without prior assumptions is a central challenge in strongly correlated electron systems. We introduce a canonical framework for diagnosing the formation of Cooper pair condensates based on the Penrose-Onsager criterion, in which superconducting order is encoded in the spectral properties of the two-particle reduced density matrix (2RDM). Within this formulation, the symmetry and structure of the condensate are obtained by projecting the 2RDM onto irreducible representations of the underlying symmetry group, enabling an unbiased identification of both conventional and exotic superconducting states. We demonstrate the power and versatility of the approach through applications to the two-dimensional Hubbard model, using both auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFQMC) and the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG). For attractive interactions without a magnetic field, we reveal a clear finite-size scaling of the condensate fraction on square lattices of size up to $20\times 20$. The framework further provides direct access to the internal structure and extent of Cooper pairs, which we track across the BCS-BEC crossover. Moreover, it enables a clean diagnosis of the finite-momentum Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase in a magnetic field. Finally, we apply the approach to a supersolid phase in the repulsive Hubbard model with an additional next-nearest neighbor hopping $t^\prime$, where a charge-density wave coexists with a superconductor. We confirm the fragmented nature of the condensate and uncover substantial pairing correlations in the triplet channel with $p$-wave spatial symmetry in addition to the dominant singlet $d$-wave pairing. Our results establish the 2RDM-based Penrose-Onsager framework as a broadly applicable and unbiased tool for characterizing superconducting order in correlated quantum matter.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Competing Paramagnetic Phases in the Maple-Leaf Heisenberg Antiferromagnet

We establish a remarkably rich ground state phase diagram in the maple-leaf lattice spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet as a function of the three symmetry-inequivalent nearest-neighbor bonds using exact diagonalization and tower-of-states analysis on clusters up to $N=36$ sites. Besides a hexagonal plaquette state, a star-shaped valence bond solid state is discovered in close vicinity to the (canted) $120^\circ$ magnetic phase, strongly reminiscent of a de-confined critical point or Dirac spin liquid scenario on the triangular lattice antiferromagnets. Moreover, an exact dimer product-state is observed next to a collinear Néel-state, similar to the Shastry-Sutherland model. All identified phases compete in a parameter regime close to the isotropic point, providing a promising region for spin liquids to emerge. By analyzing Gutzwiller-projected wave-functions we identify a sliver of parameter regime where a gapped $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ spin liquid Ansatz is in astonishing agreement with the exact $N=36$ ground state. This rich competition of paramagnetic phases demonstrates that the maple-leaf antiferromagnet is a promising platform for exotic states of matter and quantum critical phenomena.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Krylov space dynamics of ergodic and dynamically frozen Floquet systems

In isolated quantum many-body systems periodically driven in time, the asymptotic dynamics at late times can exhibit distinct behavior such as thermalization or dynamical freezing. Understanding the properties of and the convergence towards infinite-time (nonequilibrium) steady states however remains a challenging endeavor. We propose a physically motivated Krylov space perspective on Floquet thermalization which offers a natural framework to study rates of convergence towards steady states and, simultaneously, an efficient numerical algorithm to evaluate infinite-time averages of observables within the diagonal ensemble. The effectiveness of our algorithm is demonstrated by applying it to the periodically driven mixed-field Ising model, reaching system sizes of up to 30 spins. Our method successfully resolves the transition between the ergodic and dynamically frozen phases and provides insight into the nature of the Floquet eigenstates across the phase diagram. Furthermore, we show that the long-time behavior is encoded within the localization properties of the Ritz vectors under the Floquet evolution, providing an accurate diagnostic of ergodicity.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Forestalled Phase Separation as the Precursor to Stripe Order

Stripe order is a prominent feature in the phase diagram of the high-temperature cuprate superconductors. It has been confirmed as the lowest-energy state of the two-dimensional Fermi Hubbard model in certain parameter regimes. Upon increasing the temperature, stripes and the superconducting state give way to the enigmatic strange-metal and pseudogap regimes, whose precise nature remains a long-standing puzzle. Using modern tensor network techniques, we discover a crucial aspect of these regimes. Infinite projected entangled pair states (iPEPS) simulations in the fully two-dimensional limit reveal a maximum in the charge susceptibility at temperatures above the stripe order. This maximum is located around filling $n=0.9$ and intensifies upon cooling. Using minimally entangled typical thermal states (METTS) on finite cylinders, we attribute the enhanced charge susceptibility to the formation of charge clusters, reminiscent of phase separation where the system is partitioned into hole-rich and hole-depleted regions. In contrast to genuine phase separation, the charge cluster sizes fluctuate without a divergent charge susceptibility. Hence, while this precursor state features clustering of charge carriers, true phase separation is ultimately forestalled at lower temperatures by the onset of stripe order.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Superfluid dome in the spatially modulated two-dimensional XY model

In strongly correlated electron systems, superconductivity and charge density waves often coexist in close proximity, suggesting a deeper relationship between these competing phases. Recent research indicates that these orders can intertwine, with the superconducting order parameter coupling to modulations in the electronic density. To elucidate this interplay, we study a two-dimensional XY model with a periodic modulation of the coupling strength in one spatial direction. Using a combination of tensor network methods and Monte Carlo simulations, we reveal a non-monotonic, dome-like dependence of $T_c$ on the modulation wavelength, with the peak $T_c$ shifting to longer wavelengths as the modulation strength grows. The origin of this phenomenon is traced back to an effective pinning of vortices in the valleys of the modulation, confirmed by a comparison to modulated $q$-state clock models. These findings shed new light on the phase behavior of intertwined superconducting and charge-ordered states, offering a deeper understanding of their complex interactions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Spectroscopy and complex-time correlations using minimally entangled typical thermal states

Tensor network states have enjoyed great success at capturing aspects of strong correlation physics. However, obtaining dynamical correlators at non-zero temperatures is generically hard even using these methods. Here, we introduce a practical approach to computing such correlators using minimally entangled typical thermal states (METTS). While our primary method directly computes dynamical correlators of physical operators in real time, we propose extensions where correlations are evaluated in the complex-time plane. The imaginary time component bounds the rate of entanglement growth and strongly alleviates the computational difficulty allowing the study of larger system sizes. To extract the physical correlator one must take the limit of purely real-time evolution. We present two routes to obtaining this information (i) via an analytic correlation function in complex time combined with a stochastic analytic continuation method to obtain the real-time limit and (ii) a hermitian correlation function that asymptotically captures the desired correlation function quantitatively without requiring effort of numerical analytic continuation. We show that these numerical techniques capture the finite-temperature dynamics of the Shastry-Sutherland model - a model of interacting spin one-half in two dimensions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Fragmented superconductivity in the Hubbard model as solitons in Ginzburg-Landau theory

The phenomena of superconductivity and charge density waves are observed in close vicinity in many strongly correlated materials. Increasing evidence from experiments and numerical simulations suggests both phenomena can also occur in an intertwined manner, where the superconducting order parameter is coupled to the electronic density. Employing density matrix renormalization group simulations, we investigate the nature of such an intertwined state of matter stabilized in the phase diagram of the elementary $t$-$t^\prime$-$U$ Hubbard model in the strong coupling regime. Remarkably, the condensate of Cooper pairs is shown to be fragmented in the presence of a charge density wave where more than one pairing wave function is macroscopically occupied. Moreover, we provide conclusive evidence that the macroscopic wave functions of the superconducting fragments are well-described by soliton solutions of a Ginzburg-Landau equation in a periodic potential constituted by the charge density wave. In the presence of an orbital magnetic field, the order parameters are gauge invariant, and superconducting vortices are pinned between the stripes. This intertwined Ginzburg-Landau theory is proposed as an effective low-energy description of the stripe fragmented superconductor.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Variational Benchmarks for Quantum Many-Body Problems

The continued development of computational approaches to many-body ground-state problems in physics and chemistry calls for a consistent way to assess its overall progress. In this work, we introduce a metric of variational accuracy, the V-score, obtained from the variational energy and its variance. We provide an extensive curated dataset of variational calculations of many-body quantum systems, identifying cases where state-of-the-art numerical approaches show limited accuracy, and future algorithms or computational platforms, such as quantum computing, could provide improved accuracy. The V-score can be used as a metric to assess the progress of quantum variational methods toward a quantum advantage for ground-state problems, especially in regimes where classical verifiability is impossible.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Quench dynamics of stripes and phase separation in the two-dimensional $t$-$J$ model

We investigate the fundamental dynamical process of an initial quench of the chemical potential of the two-dimensional $t$-$J$ model. Depending on the ground state phase, sharply different dynamical behavior of the charge distribution and entanglement properties are observed. In the stripe phase, the intertwining of the spin and charge density waves remains stable under time evolution. A ballistic spreading of the charge density is observed with a propagation speed that is only weakly dependent on the coupling ratio, $J/t$. Moreover, in the phase-separated regime for large $J/t$, we report a complete dynamical freezing of charge degrees of freedom within, where even under long time evolution the entanglement entropy remains bounded. Our results are obtained by combining large-scale exact diagonalizations and matrix product state techniques for time evolution.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Dynamical freezing in the thermodynamic limit: the strongly driven ensemble

The ergodicity postulate, a foundational pillar of Gibbsian statistical mechanics predicts that a periodically driven (Floquet) system in the absence of any conservation law heats to a featureless `infinite temperature' state. Here, we find--for a clean and interacting generic spin chain subject to a {\it strong} driving field--that this can be prevented by the emergence of {\it approximate but stable} conservation-laws not present in the undriven system. We identify their origin: they do not necessarily owe their stability to familiar protections by symmetry, topology, disorder, or even high energy costs. We show numerically, {\it in the thermodynamic limit,} that when required by these emergent conservation-laws, the entanglement-entropy density of an infinite subsystem remains zero over our entire simulation time of several decades in natural units. We further provide a recipe for designing such conservation laws with high accuracy. Finally, we present an ensemble description, which we call the strongly driven ensemble incorporating these constraints. This provides a way to control many-body chaos through stable Floquet-engineering. Strong signatures of these conservation-laws should be experimentally accessible since they manifest in all length and time scales. Variants of the spin model we have used, have already been realized using Rydberg-dressed atoms.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗