arXiv subjects

Frank Wilczek

Publications and source records attributed to Frank Wilczek.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Emergent Chern-Simons Interactions in 3+1 Dimensions

Parity violating superconductors can support a low-dimension local interaction that becomes, upon condensation, a purely spatial Chern-Simons term. Solutions to the resulting generalized London equations can be obtained from solutions of the ordinary London equations with a complex penetration depth, and suggest several remarkable physical phenomena. The problem of flux exclusion by a sphere brings in an anapole moment, the problem of current-carrying wires brings in an azimuthal magnetic field, and the problem of vortices brings in currents along the vortices. We demonstrate that interactions of this kind, together with a conceptually related dimensionally reduced Chern-Simons interaction, can arise from physically plausible microscopic interactions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Ambiguity, Invisibility, and Negativity

Many widely different problems have a common mathematical structure wherein limited knowledge lead to ambiguity that can be captured conveniently using a concept of invisibility that requires the introduction of negative values for quantities that are inherently positive. Here I analyze three examples taken from perception theory, rigid body mechanics, and quantum measurement.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Colloquium: Quantum and Classical Discrete Time Crystals

The spontaneous breaking of time translation symmetry has led to the discovery of a new phase of matter - the discrete time crystal. Discrete time crystals exhibit rigid subharmonic oscillations, which result from a combination of many-body interactions, collective synchronization, and ergodicity breaking. This Colloquium reviews recent theoretical and experimental advances in the study of quantum and classical discrete time crystals. We focus on the breaking of ergodicity as the key to discrete time crystals and the delaying of ergodicity as the source of numerous phenomena that share many of the properties of discrete time crystals, including the AC Josephson effect, coupled map lattices, and Faraday waves. Theoretically, there exists a diverse array of strategies to stabilize time crystalline order in both closed and open systems, ranging from localization and prethermalization to dissipation and error correction. Experimentally, many-body quantum simulators provide a natural platform for investigating signatures of time crystalline order; recent work utilizing trapped ions, solid-state spin systems, and superconducting qubits will be reviewed. Finally, this Colloquium concludes by describing outstanding challenges in the field and a vision for new directions on both the experimental and theoretical fronts.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Searching For Dark Matter with Plasma Haloscopes

We summarise the recent progress of the Axion Longitudinal Plasma HAloscope (ALPHA) Consortium, a new experimental collaboration to build a plasma haloscope to search for axions and dark photons. The plasma haloscope is a novel method for the detection of the resonant conversion of light dark matter to photons. ALPHA will be sensitive to QCD axions over almost a decade of parameter space, potentially discovering dark matter and resolving the Strong CP problem. Unlike traditional cavity haloscopes, which are generally limited in volume by the Compton wavelength of the dark matter, plasma haloscopes use a wire metamaterial to create a tuneable artificial plasma frequency, decoupling the wavelength of light from the Compton wavelength and allowing for much stronger signals. We develop the theoretical foundations of plasma haloscopes and discuss recent experimental progress. Finally, we outline a baseline design for ALPHA and show that a full-scale experiment could discover QCD axions over almost a decade of parameter space.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Emergent axion response in multilayered metamaterials

We consider the design of metamaterials whose behavior embodies the equations of axion electrodynamics. We derive an effective medium description of an assembly of magneto-optical layers with out-of-plane magnetization analytically and show how to achieve effective axion response with tunable parameters. We display some key predictions and validate them numerically.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Fractional Statistics

The quantum-mechanical description of assemblies of particles whose motion is confined to two (or one) spatial dimensions offers many possibilities that are distinct from bosons and fermions. We call such particles anyons. The simplest anyons are parameterized by an angular phase parameter $θ$. $θ= 0, π$ correspond to bosons and fermions respectively; at intermediate values we say that we have fractional statistics. In two dimensions, $θ$ describes the phase acquired by the wave function as two anyons wind around one another counterclockwise. It generates a shift in the allowed values for the relative angular momentum. Composites of localized electric charge and magnetic flux associated with an abelian U(1) gauge group realize this behavior. More complex charge-flux constructions can involve non-abelian and product groups acting on a spectrum of allowed charges and fluxes, giving rise to nonabelian and mutual statistics. Interchanges of non-abelian anyons implement unitary transformations of the wave function within an emergent space of internal states. Anyons of all kinds are described by quantum field theories that include Chern--Simons terms. The crossings of one-dimensional anyons on a ring are uni-directional, such that a fractional phase $θ$ acquired upon interchange gives rise to fractional shifts in the relative momenta between the anyons. The quasiparticle excitations of fractional quantum Hall states have long been predicted to include anyons. Recently the anyon behavior predicted for quasiparticles in the $ν= 1/3$ fractional quantum Hall state has been observed both in scattering and in interferometric experiments. Excitations within designed systems, notably including superconducting circuits, can exhibit anyon behavior. Such systems are being developed for possible use in quantum information processing.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Exceptional dynamics of interacting spin liquids

We show that interactions in quantum spin liquids can result in non-Hermitian phenomenology that differs qualitatively from mean-field expectations. We demonstrate this in two prominent cases through the effects of phonons and disorder on a Kitaev honeycomb model. Using analytic and numerical calculations, we show the generic appearance of exceptional points and rings depending on the symmetry of the system. Their existence is reflected in dynamical observables including the dynamic structure function measured in neutron scattering. The results point to new phenomenological features in realizable spin liquids that must be incorporated into the analysis of experimental data and also indicate that spin liquids could be generically stable to wider classes of perturbations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Chirality: A Scientific Leitmotif

Handedness, or chirality, has been a continuing source of inspiration across a wide range of scientific problems. After a quick review of some important, instructive historical examples, I present three contemporary case studies involving sophisticated applications of chirality at the frontier of present-day science in the measurement of the muon magnetic moment, in topological physics, and in exploring the "chirality" of time. Finally, I briefly discuss chirality as a source of fertile questions.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2022

Gauge Symmetry in Shape Dynamics

C. N. Yang's ideas about local gauge symmetry and non-integrable phases have been enormously fertile sources of inspiration in fundamental physics and in the quantum theory of matter. They also arise naturally in describing the dynamics of deformable bodies. Here I extend previous discussions of the gauge symmetry of deformable bodies in several directions, bringing in an arbitrary number of dimensions, general time-dependence, conservation laws and adiabatic residuals. I briefly indicate other potential applications of the conceptual framework.

math-ph↗

arXiv2022

Substructure of Multiquark Hadrons (Snowmass 2021 White Paper)

In recent years there has been a rapidly growing body of experimental evidence for existence of exotic, multiquark hadrons, i.e. mesons which contain additional quarks, beyond the usual quark-antiquark pair and baryons which consist of more than three quarks. In all cases with robust evidence they contain at least one heavy quark Q=c or b, the majority including two heavy quarks. Two key theoretical questions have been triggered by these discoveries: (a) how are quarks organized inside these multiquark states -- as compact objects with all quarks within one confinement volume, interacting via color forces, perhaps with an important role played by diquarks, or as deuteron-like hadronic molecules, bound by light-meson exchange? (b) what other multiquark states should we expect? The two questions are tightly intertwined. Each of the interpretations provides a natural explanation of parts of the data, but neither explains all of the data. It is quite possible that both kinds of structures appear in Nature. It may also be the case that certain states are superpositions of the compact and molecular configurations. This Whitepaper brings together contributions from many leading practitioners in the field, representing a wide spectrum of theoretical interpretations. We discuss the importance of future experimental and phenomenological work, which will lead to better understandingof multiquark phenomena in QCD.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Finite thermal particle creation of Casimir light

A new solution for an analytic spectrum of particle creation by an accelerating mirror (dynamical Casimir effect) is given. It is the first model to simultaneously radiate thermally and emit a finite number of particles.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum Computing by Cooling

Interesting problems in quantum computation take the form of finding low-energy states of (pseudo)spin systems with engineered Hamiltonians that encode the problem data. Motivated by the practical possibility of producing very low-temperature spin systems, we propose and exemplify the possibility to compute by coupling the computational spins to a non-Markovian bath of spins that serve as a heat sink. We demonstrate both analytically and numerically that this strategy can achieve quantum advantage in the Grover search problem.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Models of Hidden Purity

I extend, apply, and generalize a model of a quantum radiator proposed by Griffiths to construct models of radiation fields that exhibit high entropy for long periods of time but approach pure states asymptotically. The models, which are fully consistent with the basic principles of quantum theory, provide coarse-grained models of both realistic physical systems and exotic space-times including black and white holes and baby and prodigal universes. Their analysis suggests experimental probes of some basic but subtle implications of quantum theory including interference between a particle and its own past, influence of quantum statistical entanglement on entropy flow, and residual entanglement connecting distant radiation with a degenerate source.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Adiabatic Construction of Hierarchical Quantum Hall States

We propose an exact model of anyon ground states including higher Landau levels, and use it to obtain fractionally quantized Hall states at filling fractions $ν=p/(p(m-1)+1)$ with $m$ odd, from integer Hall states at $ν=p$ through adiabatic localization of magnetic flux. For appropriately chosen two-body potential interactions, the energy gap remains intact during the process. The construction hence establishes the existence of incompressible states at these fillings.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Quantum Algorithm for Approximating Maximum Independent Sets

We present a quantum algorithm for approximating maximum independent sets of a graph based on quantum non-Abelian adiabatic mixing in the sub-Hilbert space of degenerate ground states, which generates quantum annealing in a secondary Hamiltonian. For both sparse and dense graphs, our quantum algorithm on average can find an independent set of size very close to $α(G)$, which is the size of the maximum independent set of a given graph $G$. Numerical results indicate that an $O(n^2)$ time complexity quantum algorithm is sufficient for finding an independent set of size $(1-ε)α(G)$. The best classical approximation algorithm can produce in polynomial time an independent set of size about half of $α(G)$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Improved Spatial Resolution Achieved by Chromatic Intensity Interferometry

Interferometers are widely used in imaging technologies to achieve enhanced spatial resolution, but require that the incoming photons be indistinguishable. In previous work, we built and analyzed color erasure detectors which expand the scope of intensity interferometry to accommodate sources of different colors. Here we experimentally demonstrate how color erasure detectors can achieve improved spatial resolution in an imaging task, well beyond the diffraction limit. Utilizing two 10.9 mm-aperture telescopes and a 0.8 m baseline, we measure the distance between a 1063.6 nm source and a 1064.4 nm source separated by 4.2 mm at a distance of 1.43 km, which surpasses the diffraction limit of a single telescope by about 40 times. Moreover, chromatic intensity interferometry allows us to recover the phase of the Fourier transform of the imaged objects - a quantity that is, in the presence of modest noise, inaccessible to conventional intensity interferometry.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

The Noise of Gravitons

We show that when the gravitational field is treated quantum-mechanically, it induces fluctuations -- noise -- in the lengths of the arms of gravitational wave detectors. The characteristics of the noise depend on the quantum state of the gravitational field, and can be calculated exactly in several interesting cases. For coherent states the noise is very small, but it can be greatly enhanced in thermal and (especially) squeezed states. Detection of this fundamental noise would constitute direct evidence for the quantization of gravity and the existence of gravitons.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Signatures of the Quantization of Gravity at Gravitational Wave Detectors

We develop a formalism to calculate the response of a model gravitational wave detector to a quantized gravitational field. Coupling a detector to a quantum field induces stochastic fluctuations ("noise") in the length of the detector arm. The statistical properties of this noise depend on the choice of quantum state of the gravitational field. We characterize the noise for vacuum, coherent, thermal, and squeezed states. For coherent states, corresponding to classical gravitational configurations, we find that the effect of gravitational field quantization is small. However, the standard deviation in the arm length can be enhanced -- possibly significantly -- when the gravitational field is in a non-coherent state. The detection of this fundamental noise could provide direct evidence for the quantization of gravity and for the existence of gravitons.

hep-th↗