arXiv subjects

Oriana K. Diessel

Publications and source records attributed to Oriana K. Diessel.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quantum Simulation of Semiconductor Excitons in Ultracold Dipolar Fermi Gases

Inspired by the progress on the study of exciton physics in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors, we investigate the formation of analogs of excitons in cold atomic systems. To this end, we consider single-component fermions comprised of ultracold ground-state molecules or dipolar atoms in a hexagonal optical lattice. An energy offset between triangular sublattices opens up a band gap with degeneracies at the K/K' points as in TMDs. We predict the existence of cold atomic excitons and show that cold atoms allow us to study excitons from the weak-coupling regime, where effective mass models apply, to the strong-interaction regime, described by flat-band models. We demonstrate how these excitons can be observed using lattice modulation spectroscopy, and how their wave functions can be mapped out using quantum gas microscopy. Firmly establishing the idea of quantum simulation of semiconductor physics, this work lays the foundation for simulating complex electronic states such as trions, polarons and excitonic insulators.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2026

Landau and fractionalized theories of periodically driven intertwined orders

We obtain the phase diagrams of field theories of intertwined orders in the presence of periodic driving by an external field which preserves all symmetries. We consider both a conventional Landau theory of competing orders, and a fractionalized theory in which the order parameters are distinct composites of an underlying multi-component Higgs field. We work in the large $N$ limit and couple to a Markovian bath. The long time limits are characterized by non-zero average values, oscillations with the drive period and/or half the drive period, quasi-periodic oscillations, or chaotic behavior.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Qubit Noise Spectroscopy of Superconducting Dynamics in a Magnetic Field

An applied magnetic field affects a superconductor in two ways -- by promoting pairing fluctuations, and by inducing topological defects called vortices that carry quantized magnetic flux. A quantitative characterization of the resultant field-induced superconducting dynamics with spatio-temporal resolution remains challenging, particularly in two-dimensional materials. In this work, we analyze magnetic noise measured by the depolarization rate of a proximate single spin qubit as a non-invasive probe of such dynamical fluctuations. We demonstrate that the temperature dependence of the magnetic noise spectrum near $T_c$ deviates from predictions based on quasiparticle excitations due to critical superconducting fluctuations, which in turn are enhanced by a weak applied field. By analyzing the magnetic noise due to vortex dynamics, we further show that noise spectroscopy is not only able to distinguish between different vortex phases, but also extract key physical quantities of interest, such as oscillation frequencies of pinned vortices, phonon dispersion of vortex lattices and vortex diffusivity in a vortex liquid. Complementing recent work on noise magnetometry of quasiparticle excitations and Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transitions in two-dimensional superconductors without an applied field, our work highlights the ability of noise spectroscopy to reveal a wealth of superconducting dynamical phenomena in an applied field.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Steady-states and response functions of the periodically driven O(N) scalar field theory

We investigate the phase diagram of a relativistic, parametrically driven O($N$)-symmetric theory coupled to a Markovian thermal bath. Our analysis reveals a rich variety of phases, including both uniform and spatially modulated symmetry-broken states, some of which feature an order parameter oscillating at half the drive frequency. When coupled to a background electromagnetic potential, these phases exhibit a Meissner effect, in the sense that the photon acquires a mass term. However, if the order parameter oscillates around a sufficiently small value, a fraction of an externally applied magnetic field can penetrate the sample in the form of a standing wave. We dub this property a \textit{Meissner polariton}, that is, a collective mode resulting from the hybridization of light with order parameter oscillations. Furthermore, near the onset of symmetry breaking, strong fluctuations give rise to a superconducting-like response even in the absence of a Meissner effect or of a Meissner polariton. Our results are relevant to experiments on light-induced orders, particularly superconductivity.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Eigenstate thermalization in thermal first-order phase transitions

The eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) posits how isolated quantum many-body systems thermalize, assuming that individual eigenstates at the same energy density have identical expectation values of local observables in the limit of large systems. While the ETH apparently holds across a wide range of interacting quantum systems, in this work we show that it requires generalization in the presence of thermal first-order phase transitions. We introduce a class of all-to-all spin models, featuring first-order thermal phase transitions that stem from two distinct mean-field solutions (two ``branches'') that exchange dominance in the many-body density of states as the energy is varied. We argue that for energies in the vicinity of the thermal phase transition, eigenstate expectation values do not need to converge to the same thermal value. The system has a regime with coexistence of two classes of eigenstates corresponding to the two branches with distinct expectation values at the same energy density, and another regime with Schrodinger-cat-like eigenstates that are inter-branch superpositions; these two regimes are separated by an eigenstate phase transition. We support our results by semiclassical calculations and an exact diagonalization study of a microscopic spin model, and argue that the structure of eigenstates in the vicinity of thermal first-order phase transitions can be experimentally probed via non-equilibrium dynamics.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2025

Hybrid light-matter boundaries of graphene in a chiral cavity

Recent advances in chiral cavities that can couple coherently to two-dimensional materials have opened a powerful route to reshape electronic topology without an external drive. Here we establish the bulk-boundary correspondence for graphene embedded in a circularly polarized cavity. By combining exact diagonalization (ED) of zigzag ribbons, a semi-analytic T-matrix for half-infinite lattices, and analytical insights from a Dirac-Jaynes-Cummings model, we show that (i) every light-matter interaction-induced gap hosts pairs of unidirectional light-matter edge currents depending on the Chern number of the band while some of them are even bright; (ii) these chiral states persist throughout the entire photon ladder; and (iii) their dispersion, localization length and photon distribution exhibit a universal scaling controlled by the light-matter interaction. Time-evolution simulations further demonstrate that a dark electronic edge excitation can be converted into a bright and unidirectionally propagating current that remains coherent over long time scales. Our results predict an experimental signature of the hybrid band topology and a blueprint for tunable chiral channels in next generation quantum optical solid-state devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Stabilization of long-range order in low-dimensional nonequilibrium $O(N)$ models

It is now well established that the Mermin-Wagner theorem can be circumvented in nonequilibrium systems, allowing for the spontaneous breaking of a continuous symmetry and the emergence of long-range order in low dimensions. However, only a few models demonstrating this violation are known, and they often rely on specific mechanisms that may not be generally applicable. In this work, we identify a new mechanism for nonequilibrium-induced long-range order in a class of $O(N)$-symmetric models. Inspired by the role of long-range spatial interactions in equilibrium, consider the effect of non-Markovian dissipation, in stabilizing long range order in low-dimensional nonequilibrium systems. We find that this alone is insufficient, but the interplay of non-Markovian dissipation and slow modes due to conservation laws can effectively suppress fluctuations and stabilize long-range order.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2025

Quantum noise spectroscopy of superconducting dynamics in thin film Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$

Characterizing the low-energy dynamics of quantum materials is crucial to our understanding of strongly correlated electronic states. Yet, it remains experimentally challenging to investigate such dynamics with high spectroscopic resolution in both frequency and momentum space, particularly in two-dimensional correlated systems. Here, we leverage Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond as a powerful and non-invasive tool to study thin-film Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ (BSCCO), revealing several distinct dynamical phenomena across the superconducting phase diagram. At zero magnetic field and low temperatures, NV depolarization ($T_1$) noise spectroscopy captures the low-frequency (GHz-scale) magnetic noise generated by nodal superconducting quasiparticle excitations, in agreement with Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) mean-field theory. Near the critical temperature $T_c \approx 90$ K, supercurrent-fluctuation-induced noise leads to a sharp reduction of the NV $T_1$. By carefully analyzing the temperature-scaling of $T_1$, we observe clear deviations from the BCS prediction, reflecting the importance of order parameter fluctuations and enabling the determination of both static and dynamical critical exponents. When a small field is applied, we detect a broad and asymmetric reduction of NV $T_1$ near $T_c$; the field-induced smearing of the transition unveils the presence of a vortex liquid phase. Finally, NV decoherence ($T_2$) noise spectroscopy allows us to characterize magnetic noise at even lower MHz-scale frequencies and obtain evidence for complex vortex-solid fluctuations well below $T_c$. Our results establish quantum noise spectroscopy as a versatile platform for probing dynamical phenomena in superconductors, with frequency and length scales complementary to existing techniques.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Chiral polaron formation on the edge of topological quantum matter

Immersing a mobile impurity in a quantum many-body environment can reveal fundamental properties of the background medium, hence providing a powerful probe of quantum matter. This approach is particularly intriguing when considering media with exotic properties, such as strongly-correlated phases and topological states of matter. In this work, we study the dressing of a mobile impurity interacting with a chiral mode, as provided by the edge of topological quantum matter. The resulting ''chiral polaron'' is characterized by an asymmetric spectral function, which reflects the chirality and group velocity of the topological edge mode and the drag experienced by the mobile impurity. We first build our theoretical understanding from an effective one-dimensional chiral model, which captures the hallmark signatures of the chiral polaron. We then demonstrate how this simple picture extends to realistic models of integer and fractional Chern insulator states, by adapting tensor-network methods to polaron spectroscopy. Injecting mobile impurities on the edge of topological quantum matter is shown to be a powerful tool to probe exotic edge properties, particularly suitable for cold-atom experiments.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Generalized Higgs mechanism in long-range interacting quantum systems

The physics of long-range interacting quantum systems is currently living through a renaissance driven by the fast progress in quantum simulators. In these systems many paradigms of statistical physics do not apply and also the universal long-wavelength physics gets substantially modified by the presence of long-ranged forces. Here we explore the low-energy excitations of several long-range interacting quantum systems, including spin models and interacting Bose gases, in the ordered phase associated with the spontaneous breaking of U(1) and SU(2) symmetries. Instead of the expected Goldstone modes, we find three qualitatively different regimes, depending on the range of the interaction. In one of these regimes the Goldstone modes are gapped, via a generalization of the Higgs mechanism. Moreover, we show how this effect is realized in current experiments with ultracold atomic gases in optical cavities.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Bose polaron interactions in a cavity-coupled monolayer semiconductor

The interaction between a mobile quantum impurity and a bosonic bath leads to the formation of quasiparticles, termed Bose polarons. The elementary properties of Bose polarons, such as their mutual interactions, can differ drastically from those of the bare impurities. Here, we explore Bose polaron physics in a two-dimensional nonequilibrium setting by injecting $σ^-$ polarised exciton-polariton impurities into a bath of coherent $σ^+$ polarised polaritons generated by resonant laser excitation of monolayer MoSe$_2$ embedded in an optical cavity. By exploiting a biexciton Feshbach resonance between the impurity and the bath polaritons, we tune the interacting system to the strong-coupling regime and demonstrate the coexistence of two new quasiparticle branches. Using time-resolved pump-probe measurements we observe how polaron dressing modifies the interaction between impurity polaritons. Remarkably, we find that the interactions between high-energy polaron quasiparticles, that are repulsive for small bath occupancy, can become attractive in the strong impurity-bath coupling regime. Our experiments provide the first direct measurement of Bose polaron-polaron interaction strength in any physical system and pave the way for exploration and control of many-body correlations in driven-dissipative settings.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Probing molecular spectral functions and unconventional pairing using Raman spectroscopy

An impurity interacting with an ultracold Fermi gas can form either a polaron state or a dressed molecular state in which the impurity forms a bound state with one gas particle. This molecular state features rich physics, including a first-order transition to the polaron state and a negative effective mass at small interactions. However, these features have remained so far experimentally inaccessible. In this work we show theoretically how the molecular state can be directly prepared experimentally even in its excited state using state-of-the-art cold atom Raman spectroscopy techniques. Initializing the system in the ultra-strong coupling limit, where the binding energy of the molaron is much larger than the Fermi energy, our protocol maps out the momentum-dependent spectral function of the molecule. Using a diagrammatic approach we furthermore show that the molecular spectral function serves as a direct precursor of the elusive Fulde-Ferell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase, which is realized for a finite density of fermionic impurity particles. Our results pave the way to a systematic understanding of how composite particles form in quantum many-body environments and provide a basis to develop new schemes for the observation of exotic phases of quantum many-body systems.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Floquet engineering of optical nonlinearities: a quantum many-body approach

Subjecting a physical system to a time-periodic drive can substantially modify its properties and applications. This Floquet-engineering approach has been extensively applied to a wide range of classical and quantum settings in view of designing synthetic systems with exotic properties. Considering a general class of two-mode nonlinear optical devices, we show that effective optical nonlinearities can be created by subjecting the light field to a repeated pulse sequence, which couples the two modes in a fast and time-periodic manner. The strength of these drive-induced optical nonlinearities, which include an emerging four-wave mixing, can be varied by simply adjusting the pulse sequence. This leads to topological changes in the system's phase space, which can be detected through light intensity and phase measurements. Our proposal builds on an effective-Hamiltonian approach, which derives from a parent quantum many-body Hamiltonian describing driven interacting bosons. As a corollary, our results equally apply to Bose-Einstein condensates in driven double-well potentials, where pair tunneling effectively arises from the periodic pulse sequence. Our scheme offers a practical route to engineer and finely tune exotic nonlinearities and interactions in photonics and ultracold quantum gases.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Emergent Kardar-Parisi-Zhang phase in quadratically driven condensates

In bosonic gases at thermal equilibrium, an external quadratic drive can induce a Bose-Einstein condensation described by the Ising transition, as a consequence of the explicitly broken U(1) phase rotation symmetry down to $\mathbb{Z}_2$. However, in physical realizations such as exciton-polaritons and nonlinear photonic lattices, thermal equilibrium is lost and the state is rather determined by a balance between losses and external drive. A fundamental question is then how nonequilibrium fluctuations affect this transition. Here, we show that in a two-dimensional driven-dissipative Bose system the Ising phase is suppressed and replaced by a nonequilibrium phase featuring Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) physics. Its emergence is rooted in a U(1)-symmetry restoration mechanism enabled by the strong fluctuations in reduced dimensionality. Moreover, we show that the presence of the quadratic drive term enhances the visibility of the KPZ scaling, compared to two-dimensional U(1)-symmetric gases, where it has remained so far elusive.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2020

Observation of a smooth polaron-molecule transition in a degenerate Fermi gas

Understanding the behavior of an impurity strongly interacting with a Fermi sea is a long-standing challenge in many-body physics. When the interactions are short-ranged, two vastly different ground states exist: a polaron quasiparticle and a molecule dressed by the majority atoms. In the single-impurity limit, it is predicted that at a critical interaction strength, a first-order transition occurs between these two states. Experiments, however, are always conducted in the finite temperature and impurity density regime. The fate of the polaron-to-molecule transition under these conditions, where the statistics of quantum impurities and thermal effects become relevant, is still unknown. Here, we address this question experimentally and theoretically. Our experiments are performed with a spin-imbalanced ultracold Fermi gas with tunable interactions. Utilizing a novel Raman spectroscopy combined with a high-sensitivity fluorescence detection technique, we isolate the quasiparticle contribution and extract the polaron energy, spectral weight, and the contact parameter. As the interaction strength is increased, we observe a continuous variation of all observables, in particular a smooth reduction of the quasiparticle weight as it goes to zero beyond the transition point. Our observation is in good agreement with a theoretical model where polaron and molecule quasiparticle states are thermally occupied according to their quantum statistics. At the experimental conditions, polaron states are hence populated even at interactions where the molecule is the ground state and vice versa. The emerging physical picture is thus that of a smooth transition between polarons and molecules and a coexistence of both in the region around the expected transition.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗