arXiv subjects

J. Tworzydło

Publications and source records attributed to J. Tworzydło.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Fragile single-cone Dirac quantum walks in two dimensions

It is known that a one-dimensional (1D) quantum walk gives a local space-time discretization of the massless Dirac equation with a single quasi-energy cone (no fermion doubling at low energies), keeping the fundamental symmetries (chiral and time-reversal) of the continuum theory. We show that the analogous 2D construction is fundamentally more fragile. Local two-band quantum walks can have an unpaired Dirac cone, but the protecting symmetries then cease to be ordinary on-site symmetries: They become non-symmorphic, involving half-lattice translations, and are broken by generic spatial inhomogeneities. In particular, we demonstrate that the 2D Dirac quantum walk based on the Ho-Chalker network model can be gapped by potential scattering, as is evidenced by the breakdown of reflectionless Klein tunneling. The symmorphic symmetry obstruction is sharp: If we allow for couplings that are no longer strictly finite-range but decay exponentially with distance, we can construct a 2D quantum walk with a single Dirac cone and on-site chiral and time-reversal symmetries.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Monitored chaotic scattering

We extend the random-matrix theory of chaotic scattering to quantum dots whose dynamics is monitored by time-resolved measurements. Starting from a scattering matrix drawn from a circular ensemble, we construct the corresponding ensemble of Kraus operators for the monitored evolution of the many-body density matrix. In the single-particle sector the sum over measurement outcomes can be carried out algebraically, giving a discrete-time quantum master equation for the transferred charge. We solve this equation numerically and compare the resulting charge-transfer statistics with closed-form random-matrix predictions. The latter rely on an equipartition rule for monitored particles, which we formulate as a conjecture and test against the master equation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Monitored quantum transport through a disordered one-dimensional conductor

We formulate a quantum master equation for the many-particle density matrix of electrons propagating through a single-mode conductor, combining elastic scattering by disorder with time-resolved projective measurements that monitor the outcome of scattering events. The full counting statistics of transmitted electrons has a binomial distribution function, whose mean ${\cal T}$ and variance ${\cal T}(1-{\cal T})$ determine the conductance and shot noise power, respectively. Monitoring suppresses the phase coherence responsible for one-dimensional localization: The decay with conductor length $L$ of the typical transmission probability crosses over at $L\simeq \ell_ϕ$ from the exponential $e^{-L/ξ}$ (with localization length $ξ$) to the Ohmic $1/L$ decay. Numerical solution of the master equation gives, for weak monitoring, a logarithmic dependence $\ell_ϕ\simeq ξ\ln(v_{\rm F}τ_ϕ/ξ)$ of the coherence length $\ell_ϕ$ on the mean time $τ_ϕ$ between measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Luttinger liquid tensor network: sine versus tangent dispersion of massless Dirac fermions

To apply the powerful many-body techniques of tensor networks to massless Dirac fermions one wants to discretize the $p\cdotσ$ Hamiltonian and construct a matrix-product-operator (MPO) representation. We compare two alternative discretization schemes, one with a sine dispersion, the other with a tangent dispersion, applied to a one-dimensional Luttinger liquid with Hubbard interaction. Both types of lattice fermions allow for an exact MPO representation of low bond dimension, so they are efficiently computable, but only the tangent dispersion gives a power law decay of the propagator in agreement with the continuum limit: The sine dispersion is gapped by the interactions, evidenced by an exponentially decaying propagator. Our construction of a tensor network with an unpaired Dirac cone works around the fermion-doubling obstruction by exploiting the fact that the \textit{nonlocal} Hamiltonian of tangent fermions permits a \textit{local} generalized eigenproblem.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Method to preserve the chiral-symmetry protection of the zeroth Landau level on a two-dimensional lattice

The spectrum of massless Dirac fermions on the surface of a topological insulator in a perpendicular magnetic field $B$ contains a $B$-independent "zeroth Landau level", protected by chiral symmetry. If the Dirac equation is discretized on a lattice by the method of "Wilson fermions", the chiral symmetry is broken and the zeroth Landau level is broadened when $B$ has spatial fluctuations. We show how this lattice artefact can be avoided starting from an alternative nonlocal discretization scheme introduced by Stacey. A key step is to spatially separate the states of opposite chirality in the zeroth Landau level, by adjoining $+B$ and $-B$ regions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Massless Dirac fermions on a space-time lattice with a topologically protected Dirac cone

The symmetries that protect massless Dirac fermions from a gap opening may become ineffective if the Dirac equation is discretized in space and time, either because of scattering between multiple Dirac cones in the Brillouin zone (fermion doubling) or because of singularities at zone boundaries. Here we introduce an implementation of Dirac fermions on a space-time lattice that removes both obstructions. The quasi-energy band structure has a tangent dispersion with a single Dirac cone that cannot be gapped without breaking both time-reversal and chiral symmetries. We show that this topological protection is absent in the familiar single-cone discretization with a linear sawtooth dispersion, as a consequence of the fact that there the time-evolution operator is discontinuous at Brillouin zone boundaries.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Reflectionless Klein tunneling of Dirac fermions: Comparison of split-operator and staggered-lattice discretization of the Dirac equation

Massless Dirac fermions in an electric field propagate along the field lines without backscattering, due to the combination of spin-momentum locking and spin conservation. This phenomenon, known as "Klein tunneling", may be lost if the Dirac equation is discretized in space and time, because of scattering between multiple Dirac cones in the Brillouin zone. To avoid this, a staggered space-time lattice discretization has been developed in the literature, with one single Dirac cone in the Brillouin zone of the original square lattice. Here we show that the staggering doubles the size of the Brillouin zone, which actually contains two Dirac cones. We find that this fermion doubling causes a spurious breakdown of Klein tunneling, which can be avoided by an alternative single-cone discretization scheme based on a split-operator approach.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Supercell symmetry modified spectral statistics of Kramers-Weyl fermions

We calculate the spectral statistics of the Kramers-Weyl Hamiltonian $H=v\sum_α σ_α\sin p_α+t σ_0\sum_α\cos p_α$ in a chaotic quantum dot. The Hamiltonian has symplectic time-reversal symmetry ($H$ is invariant when spin $σ_α$ and momentum $p_α$ both change sign), and yet for small $t$ the level spacing distribution $P(s)\propto s^β$ follows the $β=1$ orthogonal ensemble instead of the $β=4$ symplectic ensemble. We identify a supercell symmetry of $H$ that explains this finding. The supercell symmetry is broken by the spin-independent hopping energy $\propto t\cos p$, which induces a transition from $β=1$ to $β=4$ statistics that shows up in the conductance as a transition from weak localization to weak antilocalization.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Generalized eigenproblem without fermion doubling for Dirac fermions on a lattice

The spatial discretization of the single-cone Dirac Hamiltonian on the surface of a topological insulator or superconductor needs a special "staggered" grid, to avoid the appearance of a spurious second cone in the Brillouin zone. We adapt the Stacey discretization from lattice gauge theory to produce a generalized eigenvalue problem, of the form ${\mathcal H}ψ=E {\mathcal P}ψ$, with Hermitian tight-binding operators ${\mathcal H}$, ${\mathcal P}$, a locally conserved particle current, and preserved chiral and symplectic symmetries. This permits the study of the spectral statistics of Dirac fermions in each of the four symmetry classes A, AII, AIII, and D.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Magnetic breakdown spectrum of a Kramers-Weyl semimetal

We calculate the Landau levels of a Kramers-Weyl semimetal thin slab in a perpendicular magnetic field $B$. The coupling of Fermi arcs on opposite surfaces broadens the Landau levels with a band width that oscillates periodically in $1/B$. We interpret the spectrum in terms of a one-dimensional superlattice induced by magnetic breakdown at Weyl points. The band width oscillations may be observed as $1/B$-periodic magnetoconductance oscillations, at weaker fields and higher temperatures than the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations due to Landau level quantization. No such spectrum appears in a generic Weyl semimetal, the Kramers degeneracy at time-reversally invariant momenta is essential.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Localization landscape for Dirac fermions

In the theory of Anderson localization, a landscape function predicts where wave functions localize in a disordered medium, without requiring the solution of an eigenvalue problem. It is known how to construct the localization landscape for the scalar wave equation in a random potential, or equivalently for the Schrödinger equation of spinless electrons. Here we generalize the concept to the Dirac equation, which includes the effects of spin-orbit coupling and allows to study quantum localization in graphene or in topological insulators and superconductors. The landscape function $u(r)$ is defined on a lattice as a solution of the differential equation $\overline{H}u(r)=1$, where $\overline{H}$ is the Ostrowsky comparison matrix of the Dirac Hamiltonian. Random Hamiltonians with the same (positive definite) comparison matrix have localized states at the same positions, defining an equivalence class for Anderson localization. This provides for a mapping between the Hermitian and non-Hermitian Anderson model.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Weyl-Majorana solenoid

A Weyl semimetal wire with an axial magnetization has metallic surface states (Fermi arcs) winding along its perimeter, connecting bulk Weyl cones of opposite topological charge (Berry curvature). We investigate what happens to this "Weyl solenoid" if the wire is covered with a superconductor, by determining the dispersion relation of the surface modes propagating along the wire. Coupling to the superconductor breaks up the Fermi arc into a pair of Majorana modes, separated by an energy gap. Upon variation of the coupling strength along the wire there is a gap inversion that traps the Majorana fermions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Scattering theory of the chiral magnetic effect in a Weyl semimetal: Interplay of bulk Weyl cones and surface Fermi arcs

We formulate a linear response theory of the chiral magnetic effect in a finite Weyl semimetal, expressing the electrical current density $j$ induced by a slowly oscillating magnetic field $B$ or chiral chemical potential $μ$ in terms of the scattering matrix of Weyl fermions at the Fermi level. Surface conduction can be neglected in the infinite-system limit for $δj/δμ$, but not for $δj/δB$: The chirally circulating surface Fermi arcs give a comparable contribution to the bulk Weyl cones no matter how large the system is, because their smaller number is compensated by an increased flux sensitivity. The Fermi arc contribution to $μ^{-1}δj/δB$ has the universal value $(e/h)^2$, protected by chirality against impurity scattering --- unlike the bulk contribution of opposite sign.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Disorder and magnetic-field induced breakdown of helical edge conduction in an inverted electron-hole bilayer

We calculate the conductance of a two-dimensional bilayer with inverted electron-hole bands, to study the sensitivity of the quantum spin Hall insulator (with helical edge conduction) to the combination of electrostatic disorder and a perpendicular magnetic field. The characteristic breakdown field for helical edge conduction splits into two fields with increasing disorder, a field $B_{c}$ for the transition into a quantum Hall insulator (supporting chiral edge conduction) and a smaller field $B'_{c}$ for the transition to bulk conduction in a quasi-metallic regime. The spatial separation of the inverted bands, typical for broken-gap InAs/GaSb quantum wells, is essential for the magnetic-field induced bulk conduction --- there is no such regime in HgTe quantum wells.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Quantum phase transitions of a disordered antiferromagnetic topological insulator

We study the effect of electrostatic disorder on the conductivity of a three-dimensional antiferromagnetic insulator (a stack of quantum anomalous Hall layers with staggered magnetization). The phase diagram contains regions where the increase of disorder first causes the appearance of surface conduction (via a topological phase transition), followed by the appearance of bulk conduction (via a metal-insulator transition). The conducting surface states are stabilized by an effective time-reversal symmetry that is broken locally by the disorder but restored on long length scales. A simple self-consistent Born approximation reliably locates the boundaries of this socalled "statistical" topological phase.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Metallic phase of the quantum Hall effect in four-dimensional space

We study the phase diagram of the quantum Hall effect in four-dimensional (4D) space. Unlike in 2D, in 4D there exists a metallic as well as an insulating phase, depending on the disorder strength. The critical exponent $ν\approx 1.2$ of the diverging localization length at the quantum Hall insulator-to-metal transition differs from the semiclassical value $ν=1$ of 4D Anderson transitions in the presence of time-reversal symmetry. Our numerical analysis is based on a mapping of the 4D Hamiltonian onto a 1D dynamical system, providing a route towards the experimental realization of the 4D quantum Hall effect.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Thermal metal-insulator transition in a helical topological superconductor

Two-dimensional superconductors with time-reversal symmetry have a Z_2 topological invariant, that distinguishes phases with and without helical Majorana edge states. We study the topological phase transition in a class-DIII network model, and show that it is associated with a metal-insulator transition for the thermal conductance of the helical superconductor. The localization length diverges at the transition with critical exponent nu approx 2.0, about twice the known value in a chiral superconductor.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Metal--topological-insulator transition in the quantum kicked rotator with Z2 symmetry

The quantum kicked rotator is a periodically driven dynamical system with a metal-insulator transition. We extend the model so that it includes phase transitions between a metal and a topological insulator, in the universality class of the quantum spin Hall effect. We calculate the Z2 topological invariant using a scattering formulation that remains valid in the presence of disorder. The scaling laws at the phase transition can be studied efficiently by replacing one of the two spatial dimensions with a second incommensurate driving frequency. We find that the critical exponent does not depend on the topological invariant, in agreement with earlier independent results from the network model of the quantum spin Hall effect.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗