arXiv subjects

Bruno Mera

Publications and source records attributed to Bruno Mera.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Hall viscosity from metric-sensitive dichroic probes

Hall viscosity characterizes the geometric response of a quantum Hall droplet to deformations of the underlying metric, yet it has remained difficult to measure directly. We propose a spectroscopic probe based on circular dichroism, using chiral metric-sensitive drives -- implemented as rotating quadrupolar ("saddle") perturbations -- that effectively modulate the metric and couple to the generators of area-preserving deformations. The resulting dichroic signal directly measures the Hall viscosity, while frequency-resolved spectroscopy disentangles it from other excitations. A local formulation further enables spatially resolved markers of Hall viscosity applicable to both continuum and lattice systems. Our results open a direct route to measuring Hall viscosity in quantum-engineered platforms such as cold atoms in optical lattices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Perfect elliptic dichroism: Probing the metric of anisotropic quantum Hall droplets

Understanding the geometry of quantum Hall systems is a central challenge in modern condensed matter physics. We introduce a framework for probing the geometric structure of quantum Hall droplets by engineering the geometry of a dichroic probe and identifying the onset of "perfect elliptic dichroism", a regime in which the system responds exclusively to an elliptically polarized drive of a given chirality. This phenomenon provides a direct diagnostic of the droplet's intrinsic metric, and we show that it extends naturally to ideal Chern bands, where holomorphicity of the occupied states guarantees the vanishing of one chiral absorption rate with a quantized response for the other. In lattice realizations, such as the Harper-Hofstadter model, finite lattice-spacing corrections break the exact continuum metric description and give rise to a renormalized, emergent Landau-orbit metric; the probe ellipticity at which perfect dichroism is achieved then shifts accordingly, offering a direct spectroscopic window onto this lattice-induced geometric renormalization. Our results illuminate the rich geometric structure of quantum Hall phases and offer concrete pathways for observing these effects in quantum-engineered platforms.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Quantum Hall States response to toroidal geometry deformation

In this paper, we apply techniques of geometric quantization to study the response of the integer and fractional quantum Hall effects to toroidal geometry deformation. The main method is that of using complex time Hamiltonian evolution to induce the geometry change and then the associated generalized coherent state transforms (gCST) to find the evolution of the Laughlin states. We consider two kinds of deformations. The first are flat toroidal deformations. Although Laughlin states for all flat toroidal geometries have been thoroughly studied before, we believe that our approach via the gCST is novel. It also serves as a testing ground to study the non-flat K\"ahler deformations. The Hamiltonians used in the flat deformations are quadratic in the generators of translations and therefore non periodic. The second kind of deformations involve nonflat K\"ahler toroidal deformations, generated by global, thus bi-periodic, Hamiltonians on the torus. The corresponding imaginary time flows are (elliptic curve modulus) $\tau$-preserving Mabuchi geodesics in the space of K\"ahler metrics on the torus, hitting a curvature singularity in finite imaginary time. By restricting to $S^1$-invariant deformations we find explicit analytic expressions for the evolution of the toroidal geometry and of the Laughlin states all the way to the singularity.

math-ph↗

arXiv2025

Harmonic band theory: rigidity of non-zero degree harmonic maps from 2-torus to complex projective space

We prove the rigidity of isotropic harmonic maps from a 2-torus to a complex projective space, when they are constructed from holomorphic embeddings associated to complete linear systems. We also prove that this rigidity holds for any holomorphic embeddings without special hyperosculation points, with an extra assumption on the pullbacks of Fubini--Study symplectic forms. These results ensure the rigidity of towers of harmonic bands in condensed matter physics.

math-ph↗

arXiv2025

Relaxation toward an Ideal Chern Band through Coupling to a Markovian Bath

We propose a microscopic, weak-coupling mechanism by which generic Chern bands asymptotically relax toward ideal bands. We consider coupling interacting electrons to a Caldeira-Leggett-like Ohmic bosonic bath. Using the Born-Markov approximation, we analytically show that, upon taking the leading order contribution in momentum of the form factor, Slater determinant states of a Chern band under Hartree-Fock approximation evolve toward Slater determinant states corresponding to an ideal Chern band. We also numerically validate our proposal by performing simulation of a massive Dirac model with the extended Hubbard interaction, showing that the Berry curvature and quantum metric co-evolve toward saturation of the trace condition. Our proposal provides a concrete dissipative mechanism for driving Chern bands toward ideal quantum geometry, a fundamental building block for the stabilization of fractional Chern insulators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Density Matrix Geometry and Sum Rules

Geometry plays a fundamental role in a wide range of physical responses, from anomalous transport coefficients to their related sum rules. Notable examples include the quantization of the Hall conductivity and the Souza-Wilkens-Martin (SWM) sum rule -- both valid at zero temperature, independent of interactions and disorder. The finite-temperature generalization of the SWM sum rule has been explored in the literature, revealing deep connections to the geometry of density matrices. Building on recent advances in time-dependent geometric frameworks, we propose a time-dependent quantum geometric tensor for thermal density matrices. This formalism provides a unified interpretation of known sum rules within the framework of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, further elucidating their fundamental geometric origin. In addition, it provides experimentally accessible methods to probe quantum geometry beyond the zero-temperature regime.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Geometrical Responses of Generalized Landau Levels: Structure Factor and the Quantized Hall Viscosity

We present a new geometric characterization of generalized Landau levels (GLLs). The GLLs are a generalization of Landau levels to non-uniform Berry curvature, and are mathematically defined in terms of a holomorphic curve -- an ideal K\"ahler band -- and its associated unitary Frenet-Serret moving frame. Here, we find that GLLs are harmonic maps from the Brillouin zone to the complex projective space and they are critical points of the Dirichlet energy functional, as well as the static structure factor up to fourth order. We also find that filled GLLs exhibit quantized Hall viscosity, similar to the ordinary Landau levels. These results establish GLLs as a versatile generalization of Landau levels.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Exact Parent Hamiltonians for All Landau Level States in a Half-flux Lattice

Realizing topological flat bands with tailored single-particle Hilbert spaces is a critical step toward exploring many-body phases, such as those featuring anyonic excitations. One prominent example is the Kapit-Mueller model, a variant of the Harper-Hofstadter model that stabilizes lattice analogs of the lowest Landau level states. The Kapit-Mueller model is constructed based on the Poisson summation rule, an exact lattice sum rule for coherent states. In this work, we consider higher Landau-level generalizations of the Poisson summation rule, from which we derive families of parent Hamiltonians on a half-flux lattice which have exact flat bands whose flatband wavefunctions are lattice version of higher Landau level states. Focusing on generic Bravais lattices with only translation and inversion symmetries, we discuss how these symmetries enforced gaplessness and singular points for odd Landau level series, and how to achieve fully gapped parent Hamiltonians by mixing even and odd series. Our model points to a large class of tight-binding models with suitable energetic and quantum geometries that are potentially useful for realizing non-Abelian fractionalized states when interactions are included. The model exhibits fast decay hopping amplitudes, making it potentially realizable with neutral atoms in optical lattices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Theory of Generalized Landau Levels and Implication for non-Abelian States

Quantum geometry is a fundamental concept to characterize the local properties of quantum states. It is recently demonstrated that saturating certain quantum geometric bounds allows a topological Chern band to share many essential features with the lowest Landau level, facilitating fractionalized phases in moir\'e flat bands. In this work, we systematically extend the consequence and universality of saturated geometric bounds to arbitrary Landau levels by introducing a set of single-particle states, which we term as ``generalized Landau levels''. These generalized Landau levels exhibit exactly quantized values of integrated trace of quantum metric determined by their corresponding Landau level indices, regardless of the nonuniformity of their quantum geometric quantities. We derive all geometric quantities for individual and multiple generalized Landau levels, discuss their relations, and understand them in light of the theory of holomorphic curves and moving frames. We further propose a model by superposing few generalized Landau levels which is supposed to capture a large portion of the single-particle Hilbert space of a generic Chern band analogous to the first Landau level. Using this model, we employ exact diagonalization to identify a single-particle geometric criterion for permitting the non-Abelian Moore-Read phase, which is potentially useful for future engineering of moir\'e materials and beyond. We use a double twisted bilayer graphene model with only adjacent layer hopping term to show the existence of first generalized Landau level type narrow band and zero-field Moore-Read state at the second magic angle which serves as a promising starting point for more detailed future studies. We expect that generalized Landau levels will serve as a systematic tool for analyzing topological Chern bands and fractionalized phases therein.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Uniqueness of Landau levels and their analogs with higher Chern numbers

Landau levels are the eigenstates of a charged particle in two dimensions under a magnetic field, and are at the heart of the integer and fractional quantum Hall effects, which are two prototypical phenomena showing topological features. Following recent discoveries of fractional quantum Hall phases in van der Waals materials, there is a rapid progress in understanding of the precise condition under which the fractional quantum Hall phases can be stabilized. It is now understood that the key to obtaining the fractional quantum Hall phases is the energy band whose eigenstates are holomorphic functions in both real and momentum space coordinates. Landau levels are indeed examples of such energy bands with an additional special property of having flat geometrical features. In this paper, we prove that, in fact, the only energy eigenstates having holomorphic wave functions with a flat geometry are the Landau levels and their higher Chern number analogs. Since it has been known that any holomorphic eigenstates can be constructed from the ones with a flat geometry such as the Landau levels, our uniqueness proof of the Landau levels allows one to construct any possible holomorphic eigenstate with which the fractional quantum Hall phases can be stabilized.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Singular connection approach to topological phases and resonant optical responses

We introduce a class of singular connections as an alternative to the Berry connection for any family of quantum states defined over a parameter space. We find a natural application of the singular connection in the context of transition dipoles between two bands. We find that the shift vector is nothing but the difference between the singular connection and the connection induced from the Berry connections of involved bands; the gauge invariance of the shift vector is transparent from this expression. We show, using singular connections, that the topological invariant in two dimensions associated with optical transitions between the two bands can be computed, by means of this connection, by algebraically counting the points in the zero locus of a transition dipole matrix element of the two bands involved. It follows that this invariant provides a natural topological lower bound on the number of momenta in the Brillouin zone for which an electron cannot be excited from one Bloch band to the other by absorbing a photon.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Experimental demonstration of topological bounds in quantum metrology

Quantum metrology is deeply connected to quantum geometry, through the fundamental notion of quantum Fisher information. Inspired by advances in topological matter, it was recently suggested that the Berry curvature and Chern numbers of band structures can dictate strict lower bounds on metrological properties, hence establishing a strong connection between topology and quantum metrology. In this work, we provide a first experimental verification of such topological bounds, by performing optimal quantum multi-parameter estimation and achieving the best possible measurement precision. By emulating the band structure of a Chern insulator, we experimentally determine the metrological potential across a topological phase transition, and demonstrate strong enhancement in the topologically non-trivial regime. Our work opens the door to metrological applications empowered by topology, with potential implications for quantum many-body systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Nontrivial quantum geometry of degenerate flat bands

The importance of the quantum metric in flat-band systems has been noticed recently in many contexts such as the superfluid stiffness, the dc electrical conductivity, and ideal Chern insulators. Both the quantum metric of degenerate and nondegenerate bands can be naturally described via the geometry of different Grassmannian manifolds, specific to the band degeneracies. Contrary to the (Abelian) Berry curvature, the quantum metric of a degenerate band resulting from the collapse of a collection of bands is not simply the sum of the individual quantum metrics. We provide a physical interpretation of this phenomenon in terms of transition dipole matrix elements between two bands. By considering a toy model, we show that the quantum metric gets enhanced, reduced, or remains unaffected depending on which bands collapse. The dc longitudinal conductivity and the superfluid stiffness are known to be proportional to the quantum metric for flat-band systems, which makes them suitable candidates for the observation of this phenomenon.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Information geometry of quantum critical submanifolds: relevant, marginal and irrelevant operators

We analyze the thermodynamical limit of the quantum metric along critical submanifolds of theory space. Building upon various results previously known in the literature, we relate its singular behavior to normal directions, which are naturally associated with relevant operators in the renormalization group sense. We formulate these results in the language of information theory and differential geometry. We exemplify our theory through the paradigmatic examples of the XY and Haldane models, where the normal directions to the critical submanifolds are seen to be precisely those along which the metric has singular behavior, while for the tangent ones it vanishes -- these directions lie in the kernel of the metric.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Laughlin states change under large geometry deformations and imaginary time Hamiltonian dynamics

We study the change of the Laughlin states under large deformations of the geometry of the sphere and the plane, associated with Mabuchi geodesics on the space of metrics with Hamiltonian $S^1$-symmetry. For geodesics associated with the square of the symmetry generator, as the geodesic time goes to infinity, the geometry of the sphere becomes that of a thin cigar collapsing to a line and the Laughlin states become concentrated on a discrete set of $S^1$--orbits, corresponding to Bohr-Sommerfeld orbits of geometric quantization. The lifting of the Mabuchi geodesics to the bundle of quantum states, to which the Laughlin states belong, is achieved via generalized coherent state transforms, which correspond to the KZ parallel transport of Chern-Simons theory.

math-ph↗

arXiv2021

Engineering geometrically flat Chern bands with Fubini-Study K\"ahler structure

We describe a systematic method to construct models of Chern insulators whose Berry curvature and the quantum volume form coincide and are flat over the Brillouin zone; such models are known to be suitable for hosting fractional Chern insulators. The bands of Chern insulator models where the Berry curvature and the quantum volume form coincide, and are nowhere vanishing, are known to induce the structure of a K\"ahler manifold in momentum space, and thus we are naturally led to define K\"ahler bands to be Chern bands satisfying such properties. We show how to construct a geometrically flat K\"ahler band, with Chern number equal to minus the total number of bands in the system, using the idea of K\"ahler quantization and properties of Bergman kernel asymptotics. We show that, with our construction, the geometrical properties become flatter as the total number of bands in the system is increased; we also show the no-go theorem that it is not possible to construct geometrically perfectly flat K\"ahler bands with a finite number of bands. We give an explicit realization of this construction in terms of theta functions and numerically confirm how the constructed K\"ahler bands become geometrically flat as we increase the number of bands. We also show the effect of truncating hoppings at a finite length, which will generally result in deviation from a perfect K\"ahler band but does not seem to seriously affect the flatness of the geometrical properties.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Relating the topology of Dirac Hamiltonians to quantum geometry: When the quantum metric dictates Chern numbers and winding numbers

Quantum geometry has emerged as a central and ubiquitous concept in quantum sciences, with direct consequences on quantum metrology and many-body quantum physics. In this context, two fundamental geometric quantities are known to play complementary roles: the Fubini-Study metric, which introduces a notion of distance between quantum states defined over a parameter space, and the Berry curvature associated with Berry-phase effects and topological band structures. In fact, recent studies have revealed direct relations between these two important quantities, suggesting that topological properties can, in special cases, be deduced from the quantum metric. In this work, we establish general and exact relations between the quantum metric and the topological invariants of generic Dirac Hamiltonians. In particular, we demonstrate that topological indices (Chern numbers or winding numbers) are bounded by the quantum volume determined by the quantum metric. Our theoretical framework, which builds on the Clifford algebra of Dirac matrices, is applicable to topological insulators and semimetals of arbitrary spatial dimensions, with or without chiral symmetry. This work clarifies the role of the Fubini-Study metric in topological states of matter, suggesting unexplored topological responses and metrological applications in a broad class of quantum-engineered systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Relations between topology and the quantum metric for Chern insulators

We investigate relations between topology and the quantum metric of two-dimensional Chern insulators. The quantum metric is the Riemannian metric defined on a parameter space induced from quantum states. Similar to the Berry curvature, the quantum metric provides a geometrical structure associated to quantum states. We consider the volume of the parameter space measured with the quantum metric, which we call the quantum volume of the parameter space. We establish an inequality between the quantum volume of the Brillouin zone and that of the twist-angle space. Exploiting this inequality and the inequality between the Chern number and the quantum volume, we investigate how the quantum volume can be used as a good measure to infer the Chern number. The inequalities are found to be saturated for fermions filling Landau levels. Through various concrete models, we elucidate conditions when the quantum volume gives a good estimate of the topology of the system.

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