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Hanyu Xue

Publications and source records attributed to Hanyu Xue.

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Statistics, 't Hooft Anomaly, and the Else-Nayak Index: a careful comparison of concepts

Generalized symmetries and topological excitations, as well as symmetry anomalies and the statistics of topological excitations, are widely believed to be related. There are, however, pitfalls in how this relation is established. A lattice truncation of a symmetry transformation to a finite patch gives a symmetry patch operator that creates symmetry defects at its boundary. This geometric picture resembles a hopping operator creating topological excitations at the boundary of its support, but does not provide well-defined statistics, let alone guarantee agreement with the symmetry anomaly. A more natural and robust relation is that the hopping operators of topological excitations are symmetric: they commute with symmetry transformations. Under suitable assumptions, this condition yields a one-to-one correspondence between statistics and anomalies. We further couple boundary matter to a DW gauge field in one higher dimension to explain this relation from the perspective of gauging. A hopping operator is, in essence, a gauge-invariant operator acting on the physical degrees of freedom after gauging. Once the gauge-field background is fixed, global symmetry comes from gauge transformations that preserve that background, while the symmetric condition on hopping is precisely the remaining gauge invariance. This distinction clarifies potential misconceptions in the literature and provides a more reliable framework for comparing symmetries and topological excitations.

cond-mat.str-el

Matter-Mediated Entanglement by Classical Gravity under Realistic Matter Dynamics

Gravity-induced entanglement (GIE) is widely regarded as key evidence of nonclassical gravity. Recent work, however, argues that a classical gravitational background can generate entanglement through virtual matter propagation between separated masses. Here we show that this mechanism is negligible once realistic matter dynamics is taken into account. For bound or condensed matter, the binding potential converts the claimed long-range matter-mediated interaction into an exponentially short-ranged one, with an attenuation length of only a few picometers for representative binding energies-well below atomic dimensions and therefore negligible under experimentally relevant distances. For unbound matter, the channel remains negligible before significant wave-packet overlap, while after overlap the packets no longer represent two spatially separated subsystems. Thus the proposed classical matter-mediated mechanism does not challenge the usual interpretation of GIE as evidence for nonclassical gravity once physical localization and finite-time matter dynamics are treated consistently.

quant-ph

Holographic Theory of Mixed-Dimensional Statistics and Conservation-Encoding Hopping-Operator Algebras

We develop a general framework for the statistics of mixed-dimensional excitations subject to intertwined conservation laws, extending the familiar Fermi statistics with conserved particle number. We define statistics microscopically through a \emph{hopping-operator algebra}: a local operator subalgebra (LOsA) generated by operators that locally move or deform excitations while preserving the conservation law. Nontrivial statistics arise when this subalgebra is nontrivial. We first focus on LOsAs that encode \emph{pointed} conservation laws. These give rise to invertible excitations, whose fusion rules are exactly those of the symmetry defects of a higher group $\cG$. For such $\cG$-conserved excitations in $d$-dimensional space, we show that the corresponding LOsA -- and hence the statistics it defines -- is classified by a cohomology class $[ω] \in H^{d+2}(B\cG;\R/\Z)$, where changing $[ω]$ by a coboundary corresponds merely to a rephasing of the local operators. We further provide a holographic realization: excitations with this prescribed conservation law and statistics live on the boundary of a $\cG$ higher-group gauge theory in $(d+1)$-dimensional space, twisted by $[ω]$. More generally, non-pointed conservation laws and the associated statistics of non-invertible excitations are defined by a pair: a LOsA together with its excitation-complex representation. This is equivalent to the pair consisting of a LOsA and its Hilbert-space representation, which is the data defining a generalized symmetry. Consequently, non-pointed conservation laws and their statistics in $d$-dimensional space are classified by fusion $d$-categories, just as generalized symmetries are. The higher-group results above are the fully-pointed special cases of this more general classification.

cond-mat.str-el

Bockstein Braiding Statistics Versus Three-Loop Braiding

Braiding statistics of $p$- and $q$-dimensional topological excitations is conventionally defined in $p+q+2$ spatial dimensions. We find a novel statistical process $W_N(X,Y)=(Y^{-1}X^{-1})^N(YX)^N$ for two order-$N$ excitations in $p+q+1$ dimensions, detecting the Bockstein response $A\smile β(B)$. This new statistics and fermionic loop statistics exhaust all loop statistics in three dimensions whose fusion rules form an Abelian group $G$, classified by $H^5(B^2G,U(1))$. Surprisingly, conventional three-loop braiding goes beyond this classification, so it must have non-Abelian fusion rules. We suggest viewing three-loop braiding as particle-loop braiding together with exotic fusion rules between loops and point-like defects. We also try to clarify the relationship between statistics and symmetry anomaly.

cond-mat.str-el

Pauli stabilizer formalism for topological quantum field theories and generalized statistics

Topological quantum field theory (TQFT) provides a unifying framework for describing topological phases of matter and for constructing quantum error-correcting codes, playing a central role across high-energy physics, condensed matter, and quantum information. A central challenge is to formulate topological order on lattices and to extract the properties of topological excitations from microscopic Hamiltonians. In this work, we construct new classes of lattice gauge theories as Pauli stabilizer models, realizing a wide range of TQFTs in general dimensions. We develop a lattice description of extended excitations and systematically determine their generalized statistics. Our main example is the (4+1)D fermionic-loop toric code, obtained by condensing the $e^2m^2$-loop in the (4+1)D $\mathbb Z_4$ toric code. We show that the loop excitation exhibits fermionic loop statistics: the 24-step loop-flipping process yields a phase of $-1$. Our Pauli stabilizer models realize all twisted 2-form gauge theories in (4+1)D, the higher-form Dijkgraaf-Witten TQFT classified by $H^5(B^2G,U(1))$. Beyond (4+1)D, the fermionic-loop toric codes form a family of $\mathbb Z_2$ topological orders in arbitrary dimensions, realized as explicit Pauli stabilizer codes using $\mathbb Z_4$ qudits. Finally, we develop a Pauli-based framework that defines generalized statistics for extended excitations in any dimension, yielding computable lattice unitary processes to detect nontrivial statistics. For example, we propose anyonic membrane statistics in (6+1)D, as well as fermionic membrane and volume statistics in arbitrary dimensions. We construct new families of $\mathbb Z_2$ topological orders: the fermionic-membrane toric code and the fermionic-volume toric code. In addition, we demonstrate that $p$-dimensional excitations in $2p+2$ spatial dimensions can support anyonic $p$-brane statistics for only even $p$.

quant-ph

Aziz and Howl's Gravity-Induced Entanglement Channel is Essentially Classical Mechanics

Aziz and Howl argued that a classical gravitational field can generate quantum entanglement through a quantum-field-theoretic channel mediated by virtual matter propagation. However, their claimed channel is more naturally and accurately understood as semiclassical wavepacket motion in an external gravitational field, rather than as a distinctively quantum-field-theoretic entangling effect. Moreover, the result of their perturbative computation is incorrectly magnified: they selected a discontinuous wavefunction with infinite kinetic energy as the initial state and simultaneously treated it as stationary. Once a correct treatment using Gaussian wavepacket is adapted, the resulting effect will be negligibly small.

quant-ph

Anyonic membranes and Pontryagin statistics

Anyons, unique to two spatial dimensions, underlie extraordinary phenomena such as the fractional quantum Hall effect, but their generalization to higher dimensions has remained elusive. The topology of Eilenberg-MacLane spaces constrains the loop statistics to be only bosonic or fermionic in any dimension. In this work, we introduce the novel anyonic statistics for membrane excitations in four dimensions. Analogous to the $\mathbb{Z}_N$-particle exhibiting $\mathbb{Z}_{N\times \gcd(2,N)}$ anyonic statistics in two dimensions, we show that the $\mathbb{Z}_N$-membrane possesses $\mathbb{Z}_{N\times \gcd(3,N)}$ anyonic statistics in four dimensions. Given unitary volume operators that create membrane excitations on the boundary, we propose an explicit 56-step unitary sequence that detects the membrane statistics. We further analyze the boundary theory of $(5{+}1)$D 1-form $\mathbb{Z}_N$ symmetry-protected topological phases and demonstrate that their domain walls realize all possible anyonic membrane statistics. We then show that the $\mathbb{Z}_3$ subgroup persists in all higher dimensions. In addition to the standard fermionic $\mathbb{Z}_2$ membrane statistics arising from Stiefel-Whitney classes, membranes also exhibit $\mathbb{Z}_3$ statistics associated with Pontryagin classes. We explicitly verify that the 56-step process detects the nontrivial $\mathbb{Z}_3$ statistics in 5, 6, and 7 spatial dimensions. Moreover, in 7 and higher dimensions, the statistics of membrane excitations stabilize to $\mathbb{Z}_{2} \times \mathbb{Z}_{3}$, with the $\mathbb{Z}_3$ sector consistently captured by this process.

quant-ph

Statistics of Abelian topological excitations

In this paper, we develop a novel theory that generalizes the concept of anyon statistics to Abelian topological excitations of any dimension. We axiomatize excitations as a selected collection of states and operators satisfying the configuration axiom and the locality axiom, purely based on many-body quantum mechanics. Upon these axioms, we define a rigorous and self-contained theory of statistics using only basic algebra and can be implemented on a computer. While our theory is developed independently, the results align with existing physical theories.

quant-ph

Generalized Statistics on Lattices

The statistics of particles and extended excitations, such as loops and membranes, are fundamental to modern condensed matter physics, high-energy physics, and quantum information science, yet a comprehensive lattice-level framework for computing them remains elusive. In this work, we develop a universal microscopic method to determine the generalized statistics of Abelian excitations on lattices of arbitrary dimension, and demonstrate it by deriving the statistics of particles, loops, and membranes in up to three spatial dimensions. Our approach constructs a sequence of local unitary operators whose many-body Berry phase encodes the desired statistical invariant. The required sequence is generated automatically from the Smith normal form of locality constraints and therefore needs no extra physical input. We prove that the resulting invariants are quantized, provide an algorithm that computes them efficiently, and show how they unify familiar braiding and fusion data of particles while also uncovering new self- and mutual-statistics of loop and membrane excitations. We further demonstrate that each statistical invariant corresponds to an 't Hooft anomaly of a generalized symmetry; we show that a non-trivial invariant both (i) obstructs gauging that symmetry and (ii) forbids any short-range-entangled (symmetry-preserving) ground state. This establishes a precise connection between microscopic lattice anomalies and many-body dynamics, providing a generalization of the Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem that constrains a wide class of quantum lattice systems.

quant-ph

Optimal Form Factors for Experimental Proposals on Gravity-Induced Entanglement

The interface between quantum mechanics and gravity remains an unresolved issue. Recent advances in precision measurement suggest that detecting gravity-induced entanglement in oscillator systems could provide key evidence for the quantum nature of gravity. However, thermal decoherence imposes strict constraints on system parameters. For entanglement to occur, mechanical frequency $ω_m$, dissipation rate $γ_m$, environmental temperature $T$, oscillator density $ρ$, and the form factor $Λ$-determined by the geometry and arrangement of oscillators-must satisfy a specific constraint. This constraint, intrinsic to the noise model, is considered universal and cannot be improved by quantum control. Given the difficulty in further optimizing $ω_m$, $γ_m$, $ρ$, and $T$, optimizing $Λ$ can relax the constraints on these parameters. In this work, we prove that the form factor has a supremum of $2π$, revealing a fundamental limit of the oscillator system. We propose designs that approach this supremum, nearly an order of magnitude higher than typical spherical oscillators. This optimization could ease experimental constraints and bring quantum gravity validation based on gravity-induced entanglement closer to realization.

quant-ph

SPT phases for mixed states in one dimension

This study explores the specific structure of 1D SPT phases with $G\times H$ symmetry ($G, H$ are finite non-Abelian groups) and constructs an order parameter. We demonstrate that this order parameter can comprehensively describe this specific structure. Utilizing this order parameter, we prove that when the SPT phase theory of symmetry $G$ is extended to mixed states, if the density matrix is treated as a pure SPT state with $G\times G$ symmetry, the Hermiticity and positive semi-definiteness ensure that the SPT phase of the mixed state is similarly described by $H^2(G)$. Finally, we propose that under this perspective, the SPT phase of time-reversal symmetry no longer exists in mixed states.

cond-mat.other

Tensor network formulation of symmetry protected topological phases in mixed states

We define and classify symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in mixed states based on the tensor network formulation of the density matrix. In one dimension, we introduce strong injective matrix product density operators (MPDO), which describe a broad class of short-range correlated mixed states, including the locally decohered SPT states. We map strong injective MPDO to a pure state in the doubled Hilbert space and define the SPT phases according to the cohomology class of the symmetry group in the doubled state. Although the doubled state exhibits an enlarged symmetry, the possible SPT phases are also constrained by the Hermiticity and the semi-positivity of the density matrix. We here obtain a complete classification of SPT phases with a direct product of strong $G$ and weak $K$ unitary symmetry given by the cohomology group $H^2(G, \text{U}(1))\oplus H^1(K, H^1(G, \text{U}(1)))$. The SPT phases in our definition are preserved under symmetric local circuits consisting of non-degenerate channels. This motivates an alternative definition of SPT phases according to the equivalence class of mixed states under a ``one-way" connection using symmetric non-degenerate channels. In locally purifiable MPDO with strong symmetry, we prove that this alternative definition reproduces the cohomology classification. We further extend our results to two-dimensional mixed states described by strong semi-injective tensor network density operators and classify the possible SPT phases.

cond-mat.str-el

DP-Image: Differential Privacy for Image Data in Feature Space

The excessive use of images in social networks, government databases, and industrial applications has posed great privacy risks and raised serious concerns from the public. Even though differential privacy (DP) is a widely accepted criterion that can provide a provable privacy guarantee, the application of DP on unstructured data such as images is not trivial due to the lack of a clear qualification on the meaningful difference between any two images. In this paper, for the first time, we introduce a novel notion of image-aware differential privacy, referred to as DP-image, that can protect user's personal information in images, from both human and AI adversaries. The DP-Image definition is formulated as an extended version of traditional differential privacy, considering the distance measurements between feature space vectors of images. Then we propose a mechanism to achieve DP-Image by adding noise to an image feature vector. Finally, we conduct experiments with a case study on face image privacy. Our results show that the proposed DP-Image method provides excellent DP protection on images, with a controllable distortion to faces.

cs.CR