Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Flore K. Kunst

Publications and source records attributed to Flore K. Kunst.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Cascaded Brillouin-Kerr microcombs in surface nanoscale axial photonic resonators

Surface nanoscale axial photonic resonators (SNAPRs) provide an axially structured whispering-gallery-mode platform in which nanoscale effective-radius variations produce spatially localized optical resonances. Here, we demonstrate cascaded Brillouin-Kerr microcomb generation in a SNAPR fabricated from 660 micrometer diameter silica fiber. Under continuous-wave pumping, cascaded stimulated Brillouin scattering generates first- and second-order Stokes fields that seed Kerr four-wave mixing within the cavity. The resulting nonlinear spectrum contains two comb families with a common azimuthal spacing of 100.2 GHz and a relative offset of 9.6 GHz, consistent with the Brillouin shift in silica. A low-power transmission spectrogram provides a spatially resolved modal analysis of the resonator, revealing localized resonances with loaded quality factors on the order of ten million, and optical resonance pairs compatible with the measured Brillouin spacing. These results establish SNAPRs as a platform for studying cascaded stimulated Brillouin scattering, Kerr four-wave mixing, and comb formation in axially structured whispering gallery resonators.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Exact solutions of nonreciprocal Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model with domain walls

We investigate domain-wall physics in a non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model featuring the non-Hermitian skin effect and its higher-dimensional extensions, focusing on analytical eigenstate solutions under open boundary conditions. By gluing two Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chains with inverted coupling ratios together, we identify two distinct interface geometries, and derive closed-form quantization conditions for the complex wave number and wave functions using symmetry-based ansatzes. Besides conventional skin modes and topological zero modes, the domain walls generate additional localized states at finite energy that detach from the bulk open-boundary-condition continuum. We validate the analytical results by exact diagonalization, and further generalize the interface construction to a two-dimensional Lieb lattice, where competing nonreciprocities produce tunable funneling regimes towards codimension-one and codimension-two interfaces.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2026

Birefringent Curvature Control of Surface Plasmons and Collective Emission

We present a generic wave equation for surface plasmon polaritons on any macroscopically curved metal-dielectric interface, with isotropic and anisotropic geometric potentials linear in curvature. Remarkably, the anisotropic birefringence vanishes if the metal-to-dielectric permittivity ratio equals the golden ratio squared, mimicking isotropy at linear order on an actually anisotropic surface, as confirmed by full-wave simulations. Applying our equation to quantum emitters on metallic spheres, we demonstrate a curvature-controlled reshaping of collective decay rates and frequency shifts.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2026

Autoregressive Projective Quantum Monte Carlo: From a Hermitian to a Non-Hermitian Perspective

Accurately determining the ground-state properties of quantum many-body systems remains a central challenge. In this work, we introduce an autoregressive projective quantum Monte Carlo (PQMC) framework that leverages recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to guide the stochastic dynamics. By incorporating autoregressive sampling into PQMC, we demonstrate substantial improvements in accuracy compared to standard unguided PQMC, while retaining polynomial computational cost. We benchmark our approach against conventional variational RNN ansätze and find that the autoregressive PQMC consistently achieves lower energies and higher fidelity, regardless of system size or whether the Hamiltonian is Hermitian or non-Hermitian. Our results highlight the versatility and power of neural-guided PQMC methods, paving the way for promising scalable simulations of low-energy states in complex quantum many-body systems.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2026

Many-Body Mobility Edge and Non-Hermitian Skin Effect in an Interacting Quasi-Periodic Spin Chain

Non-Hermitian many-body physics reveals a rich interplay between topology, localization, and boundary effects, yet their collective behavior in interacting disordered systems remains largely unexplored. In this work, we study an interacting non-Hermitian spin chain subject to a quasi-periodic longitudinal field, providing a unified and controlled setting, where non-Hermitian dynamics, interactions, and localization mechanisms intertwine. Remarkably, we discover a "D-shaped" many-body mobility edge that separates extended and localized eigenstates, while simultaneously delineating regimes of many-body localization and the many-body skin effect (where many-body eigenstates acquire an anomalous drift towards a boundary under open boundaries) emerging from the combined action of interactions, non-Hermiticity, and driving amplitude. We demonstrate that the skin effect induces multifractal scaling in the non-Hermitian eigenstates, providing a clear signature of the many-body skin effect. Employing diagnostics such as the fractal dimension, complex eigenvalue fractions, and many-body inverse participation ratios, we map out a unified phase diagram in which all measures consistently identify the "D-shaped" mobility edge. Finally, we probe this interplay using both complex level-spacing statistics and dynamical observables such as density imbalance, entanglement growth, and wave-packet evolution, culminating in a rich many-body mobility phase diagram that captures both the many-body skin effect and localization transitions. Our results identify a clear, defining signature of the "D-shaped" many-body mobility edge, and underscore its pivotal role in shaping the physics of open quantum many-body systems.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2026

Multi-dimensional parameter space of higher-order exceptional points induced by Brillouin optoacoustics

Exceptional points (EPs) are degeneracies in the spectrum of non-Hermitian systems, where both the eigenvalues and eigenvectors coalesce. In the vicinity of an n-th order EP, the eigenvalues generally show n-th-root dependence on the system parameters, making EPs potentially promising candidates for ultra-sensitive measurements. Usually EPs are implemented in precisely fabricated nano- and microstructures. In this work, we instead show the experimental implementation of a third-order EP (EP3) using the synthetic dimension in a single-mode optical fiber, leveraging multi-frequency Brillouin scattering. We perform a multi-dimensional scan of the parameter space revealing not only an EP3 but also additional topological structures connected to it. Our work paves the way toward fabrication-free realizations of exceptional points of arbitrary order.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Bridging Frustration and Non-Hermiticity via COMPASS: An Adaptive Biorthogonal Neural Quantum State Framework

In this work, we introduce a complementary optimization method for progressive and adaptive state search (COMPASS) based on biorthogonal adaptive recurrent neural quantum states. Our approach combines an adaptive autoregressive architecture with a biorthogonal variational Monte Carlo scheme as well as a complementary optimization scheme that alternates between energy and variance minimization. This enables the stable convergence to ground-state eigenpairs, while avoiding Markov chain sampling through exact autoregressive generation. We demonstrate that for parity-time(PT)-symmetric Hamiltonians, unconstrained complex ansatze can spontaneously break PT symmetry during optimization, even in the unbroken phase, leading to spurious imaginary energies. Real-valued ansatze, on the other hand, naturally constrain the optimization to the correct physical manifold. Conversely, for generic non-Hermitian (NH) Hamiltonians without symmetry protection and complex spectra, complex ansatze are essential for capturing complex ground-state properties. Our results establish that physically-informed ansatz selection is crucial for reliable NH simulations. By combining adaptive architectures, biorthogonal optimization, and symmetry-aware modeling, this framework enables a direct study of 1D and 2D NH many-body systems without Hermitian embeddings or adiabatic continuation. Applying this framework to systems with frustrated magnetism, we show that gap frustration provides a quantitative shield against NH spectral instability, with the frustration gap setting a critical threshold for PT-symmetry breaking. Also, complexifying the frustration coupling itself generates a new topologically nontrivial network of diabolic level crossings, controlled by the phase of the complex coupling, that has no Hermitian analog. We term this novel spectral topology in NH frustrated systems the diabolic ring.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2026

Spectral-topology-induced criticality in non-Hermitian fermionic metals

Quantum matter emerges from the interplay of fluctuations, topology, and entanglement, which - in equilibrium - governs quantized transport, universal criticality, and topological classification. Non-Hermitian systems, widely explored in platforms ranging from electric circuits to photonics, are intrinsically out-of-equilibrium, and display fundamentally new phenomena, including complex spectra, spectral winding, exceptional topology, and non-unitary dynamics. A central challenge is understanding how the complex single-particle spectrum governs universal many-body behavior. We introduce a symmetry-protected dynamical topological index derived directly from the complex spectrum. Through the lens of algebraic topology, more specifically Morse theory, we identify critical points in the spectrum with topological defects, whose curvature and stability are protected under continuous deformations. This links spectral geometry to many-body observables, unifying non-Hermitian band topology, entanglement, and transport. We demonstrate that non-Hermitian quantum criticality in non-interacting systems is controlled by gain-and-loss-selected non-equilibrium steady states, which dynamically generate an emergent imaginary Fermi surface whose Fermi points host scale-invariant gapless modes with logarithmic entanglement scaling and algebraic correlations. Our work establishes a unified framework for non-Hermitian quantum matter, connecting spectral topology to Morse theory, revealing a topological foundation of non-equilibrium quantum criticality.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2026

Higher-order exceptional points in a multimode continuum optoacoustic system

Exceptional points appear in non-Hermitian systems as degeneracies, where not only eigenvalues but also eigenvectors coalesce. They are of great theoretical and experimental interest due to their exotic topological properties and enhanced sensitivity to perturbations. Experimental realizations of higher-order exceptional points, where more than two eigenvectors coalesce, rely on highly fine-tuned setups. Recently, stimulated Brillouin scattering has been employed to generate second-order exceptional points in a fabrication-free setup by leveraging off-resonant scattering. In this work we generalize this approach, and we develop an off-resonant, multimode theory for stimulated Brillouin scattering as an avenue towards realizing symmetry-induced exceptional points of any order. We present the experimental implementation of our program in an accompanying paper. Our multimode theory could also be employed in applications in optoacoustic sensing, synthetic neuromorphic computing, microwave photonic filters, and optoacoustic quantum signal processing.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Atom-Photon Bound States in Fractal Photonic Lattices: Localization Length and Anomalous Diffusion

We study atom-photon bound states seeded by two-level emitters coupled to self-similar photonic lattices. By expressing the photonic Green's function through the heat kernel, we show that the far-field localization length obeys $ξ\sim Δ^{-1/d_w}$, with the detuning $Δ$ from the lower spectral edge and the walk dimension $d_w$ of the underlying fractal. This scaling is controlled by anomalous diffusion and does not rely on translational invariance or a band-edge effective-mass approximation. Exact diagonalization on Sierpiński gaskets, pyramids, Vicsek graphs, and Sierpiński carpets confirms the far-field prediction once the bath Hamiltonian is rendered Laplacian-like by compensating the local inhomogeneity in the connectivities with on-site potentials. In the near field, the bound-state amplitude exhibits an additional algebraic variation. For nested finitely ramified fractals, the corresponding exponent agrees with the classical resistance/ first-passage scaling, whereas Sierpiński carpets display clear deviations from this simple law. Our results extend structured-bath waveguide QED to self-similar non-periodic geometries and connect bound-state profiles to transport exponents of the underlying fractal lattice.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2026

From order to chaos in a chip-scale Kerr parametric oscillator

Integrated photonics has enabled a wide class of chip-scale light sources and quantum technologies. Within this field, microresonator-based degenerate optical parametric oscillators (DOPOs) have gained prominence. Above a critical power threshold, these systems undergo spontaneous symmetry breaking to settle into one of two stable, π-phase-shifted states -- a mechanism successfully used for quantum random number generation and photonic Ising machines. Here, we show that DOPOs based on the Kerr nonlinearity host a significantly broader range of nonlinear dynamics than previously explored. Using a silicon nitride microring resonator, we experimentally identify Hopf bifurcations that trigger a transition from stationary operation to self-sustained oscillations at MHz frequencies. By adjusting pump detunings and powers, we achieve turnkey control over these oscillatory regimes, navigating the system between stable binary states and periodic limit cycles. Furthermore, we report the experimental observation of period-doubling bifurcations, which numerical simulations reveal as the precursor to a cascading instability culminating in chaos at elevated pump powers. Our results establish a framework for controlling nonlinear instabilities in chip-scale parametric oscillators, with applications in programmable photonic hardware and dynamical optical computing.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Spectral Riemann Sheet Topology of Gapped Non-Hermitian Systems

We show topological configurations of the complex-valued spectra in gapped non-Hermitian systems. These arise when the distinctive EPs in the energy Riemann sheets of such models are annihilated after threading them across the boundary of the Brillouin zone. This results in a non-trivially closed branch cut that is protected by an energy gap in the spectrum. Their presence or absence establishes topologically distinct configurations for fully non-degenerate systems and tuning between them requires a closing of the gap, forming exceptional point degeneracies. We provide an outlook toward experimental realizations in metasurfaces and single-photon interferometry.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2026

Fibonacci Waveguide Quantum Electrodynamics

Waveguide quantum electrodynamics (QED) provides a powerful framework for engineering quantum interactions, traditionally relying on periodic photonic arrays with continuous energy bands. Here, we investigate waveguide QED in a fundamentally different environment: A one-dimensional photonic array whose hopping strengths are structured aperiodically according to the deterministic Fibonacci-Lucas substitution rule. These "Fibonacci waveguides" lack translational invariance and are characterized by a singular continuous energy spectrum and critical eigenstates, representing a deterministic intermediate between ordered and disordered systems. We demonstrate how to achieve decoherence-free, coherent interactions in this unique setting. We analyze two paradigmatic cases: (i) Giant emitters resonantly coupled to the simplest aperiodic version of a standard waveguide. For these, we show that atom photon bound states form only for specific coupling configurations dictated by the aperiodic sequence, leading to an effective atomic Hamiltonian, which itself inherits the Fibonacci structure; and (ii) emitters locally and off-resonantly coupled to the aperiodic version of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger waveguide. In this case the mediating bound states feature aperiodically modulated profiles, resulting in an effective Hamiltonian with multifractal properties. Our work establishes Fibonacci waveguides as a versatile platform, which is experimentally feasible, demonstrating that the deterministic complexity of aperiodic structures can be directly engineered into the interactions between quantum emitters.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2026

The analytically tractable zoo of similarity-induced exceptional structures

Exceptional points (EPs) are non-Hermitian spectral degeneracies marking a simultaneous coalescence of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Despite the fact that multiband $n$-fold EPs (EP$n$s) generically emerge as special points on manifolds of EP$m$s, where $m<n$, EP$n$s as well as their topological properties have hitherto been studied as isolated objects. In this work we address this issue and carefully map out the emerging properties of multifold exceptional structures in three and four dimensions under the influence of one or multiple generalized similarities, revealing diverse combinations of EP$m$s in direct connection to EP$n$s. We find that simply counting the number of constraints defining the EP$n$s is not sufficient in the presence of similarities; the constraints can also be satisfied by the EP$m$-manifolds obeying certain spectral symmetries in the complex eigenvalue plane, reducing their dimension beyond what is expected from counting the number of constraints. Furthermore, the induced spectral symmetries not always allow for any EP$m$-manifold to emerge in $n$-band systems, making the plethora of exceptional structures deviate further from naive expectations. We illustrate our findings in simple periodic toy models. By relying on similarity relations instead of the less general symmetries, we simultaneously cover several physically relevant scenarios, ranging from optics and topolectrical circuits, to open quantum systems. This makes our predictions highly relevant and broadly applicable in modern research, as well as experimentally viable within various branches of physics.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

An Algebraic Approach to Bifurcations in Kerr Ring and Fabry-Perot Resonators

Nonlinear phenomena such as optical bistability and spontaneous symmetry breaking play a central role in Kerr resonators, and are increasingly exploited in photonic integrated circuits for all-optical information processing. In this work, we present an analytical framework allowing to find the stationary states and their bifurcations for the propagating fields in Kerr ring and Fabry-Perot resonators, which can be generalized to other nonlinear systems. Using tools from nonlinear algebra, namely, polynomial resultants and Groebner bases, we derive compact polynomial expressions describing the system's full solution in both intensity and amplitude representations. The bifurcations follow directly from these expressions, and are additionally characterized as exceptional points of an auxiliary linear non-Hermitian system. Together, these results unify optical bistability and spontaneous symmetry breaking within a single analytical framework, and offer a route toward improved control of nonlinear optical systems, and the design of photonic devices.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Color symmetry breaking in a nonlinear optical microcavity

Spontaneous symmetry breaking leads to diverse phenomena across the natural sciences, from the Higgs mechanism in particle physics to superconductors and collective animal behavior. In photonic systems, the symmetry of light states can be broken when two optical fields interact through the Kerr nonlinearity, as shown in early demonstrations with counterpropagating and cross-polarized modes. Here, we report the first observation of color symmetry breaking in an integrated silicon nitride microring, where spontaneous power imbalance arises between optical mode at different wavelengths, mediated by the Kerr effect. The threshold power for this effect is as low as 19 mW. By examining the system's homogeneous states, we further demonstrate a Kerr-based nonlinear activation-function generator that produces sigmoid-, quadratic-, and leaky-ReLU-like responses. These findings reveal previously unexplored nonlinear dynamics in dual-pumped Kerr resonators and establish new pathways towards compact, all-optical neuromorphic circuits.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2025

Many-Body Neural Network Wavefunction for a Non-Hermitian Ising Chain

Non-Hermitian (NH) quantum systems have emerged as a powerful framework for describing open quantum systems, non-equilibrium dynamics, and engineered quantum optical materials. However, solving the ground-state properties of NH systems is challenging due to the exponential scaling of the Hilbert space, and exotic phenomena such as the emergence of exceptional points. Another challenge arises from the limitations of traditional methods like exact diagonalization (ED). For the past decade, neural networks (NNs) have shown promise in approximating many-body wavefunctions, yet their application to NH systems remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we explore different NN architectures to investigate the ground-state properties of a parity-time-symmetric, one-dimensional NH, transverse field Ising model with a complex spectrum by employing a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine~(RBM), and a multilayer perceptron (MLP). We construct the NN-based many-body wavefunctions and validate our approach by recovering the ground-state properties of the model for small system sizes, finding excellent agreement with ED. Furthermore, for larger system sizes, we demonstrate that the RNN outperforms both the RBM and MLP. However, we show that the accuracy of the RBM and MLP can be significantly improved through transfer learning, allowing them to perform comparably to the RNN for larger system sizes. These results highlight the potential of neural network-based approaches--particularly for accurately capturing the low-energy physics of NH quantum systems in case of both weak and strong non-Hermiticity.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2025

Multiple many-body localization transitions in a driven non-Hermitian quasiperiodic chain

We investigate the fate of a many-body localized phase in a non-Hermitian quasiperiodic model of hardcore bosons subjected to periodic driving. While in general, the many-body localized system is known to thermalize with increasing driving period due to Floquet heating, in this case, we demonstrate that the initially localized system first delocalizes and then localizes again, resulting in a re-entrant many-body localization (MBL) transition as a function of the driving period. Strikingly, further increase in the driving period results in a series of localization-delocalization transitions leaving behind traces of extended regimes (islands) in between MBL phases. Furthermore, non-Hermiticity renders the extended islands boundary-sensitive, resulting in a Floquet many-body skin effect under open boundaries. We present numerical evidence from spectral and dynamic studies, confirming these findings. Our study opens new pathways for understanding the interplay between non-Hermiticity and quasiperiodicity in driven systems.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗