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Pierre-Antoine Bernard

Publications and source records attributed to Pierre-Antoine Bernard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

A discrete Smorodinsky--Winternitz II superintegrable system

We construct a discrete Smorodinsky--Winternitz II superintegrable system on a triangular region of the two-dimensional square lattice. The model is built from a pair of commuting finite-difference number operators with finite spectrum together with an associated ladder-operator structure. We show that it is maximally superintegrable and that its symmetry algebra admits a Hahn-algebra presentation. The spectral problem is solved exactly in terms of bivariate orthogonal polynomials of mixed Krawtchouk and dual Hahn type associated with the factorized $A_2$-Leonard pair. Finally, we show that the continuum limit recovers the continuous Smorodinsky--Winternitz II system together with its Hermite--Laguerre eigenfunctions. We further explain how the Hahn presentation of the discrete symmetry algebra becomes singular in this limit, while the limiting algebraic structure is naturally described by the Laguerre--Heun algebra associated with Cartesian and parabolic separation of variables.

math-ph↗
arXiv2026

Analytical Angle-Finding and Series Expansions for Quantum Signal Processing via Orthogonal Polynomial Theory

Quantum signal processing is a powerful framework in quantum algorithms, playing a central role in Hamiltonian simulation and related applications. The sequence of polynomials implemented at each step of this protocol provides a polynomial basis for block-encoding any polynomial of a unitary. We characterize the achievable polynomial bases in terms of their orthogonality or biorthogonality with respect to a linear functional admitting an integral representation. Explicit expressions for the quantum signal processing angles are derived for families of polynomial sequences, including Hermite, Jacobi, and Rogers-Szegő polynomials. We show that $2n+2$ rotation angles are required to encode a sequence of polynomials in these classes up to degree $n$. We use this result to show that an $ε$-approximation of a smooth function $f$ can be block-encoded using $O(\log(1/ε))$ gates via its Hermite series expansion. The connections established with the theory of orthogonal and biorthogonal polynomials lead to a new method for solving the quantum signal processing angle-finding problem, yielding explicit expressions for the angles. They also provide a complete characterization of the polynomials achievable by $\mathrm{SU}(1,1)$-QSP in terms of their roots. Biorthogonality properties are shown to hold in the bivariate QSP setting, yielding a set of necessary conditions for achievable polynomials.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2025

Entanglement Hamiltonian and orthogonal polynomials

We study the entanglement Hamiltonian for free-fermion chains with a particular form of inhomogeneity. The hopping amplitudes and chemical potentials are chosen such that the single-particle eigenstates are related to discrete orthogonal polynomials of the Askey scheme. Due to the bispectral properties of these functions, one can construct an operator which commutes exactly with the entanglement Hamiltonian and corresponds to a linear or parabolic deformation of the physical one. We show that this deformation is interpreted as a local inverse temperature and can be obtained in the continuum limit via methods of conformal field theory. Using this prediction, the properly rescaled eigenvalues of the commuting operator are found to provide a very good approximation of the entanglement spectrum and entropy.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2025

Distinctive features of inhomogeneous spin chains

This review presents recent developments in the study of inhomogeneous XX spin chains, highlighting results on perfect state transfer, out-of-equilibrium stationary dynamics in open systems, and entanglement and correlations in ground states. We discuss the conditions on couplings that enable perfect state transfer, examine how heat currents scale when the chains are coupled to thermal baths, explore the role of tridiagonal matrices in approximating the entanglement Hamiltonian and investigate bulk and boundary entanglement negativity and correlation decay. These findings underscore some of the distinctive physical behavior of inhomogeneous spin chains and their potential applications in quantum information and thermal transport.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2025

Entanglement of Inhomogeneous Free Bosons and Orthogonal Polynomials

In this paper, we investigate the ground-state entanglement entropy in inhomogeneous free-boson models in one spatial dimension. We develop a powerful method to extract the leading term in the entanglement scaling, based on the analytic properties of the inhomogeneous potential. This method is applicable to a broad class of models with smooth spatial inhomogeneities. As a case study, we apply this approach for a family of exactly-solvable models characterized by orthogonal polynomials of the Askey scheme, finding a perfect match between the numerical and analytical results.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2025

Exactly solvable inhomogeneous XY spin chain

Analytical expressions for the eigenvalues of certain inhomogeneous XY spin chains are computed. These models are rewritten in terms of free-fermion models using a well-known Jordan-Wigner transformation. Finding the spectrum of such models amounts to diagonalizing a matrix whose size is equal to the number of sites in the chain. This is achieved by recognizing and exploiting contiguity relations satisfied by specific orthogonal polynomials.

math-ph↗
arXiv2024

A dynamical algebra of protocol-induced transformations on Dicke states

Quantum $n$-qubit states that are totally symmetric under the permutation of qubits are essential ingredients of important algorithms and applications in quantum information. Consequently, there is significant interest in developing methods to prepare and manipulate Dicke states, which form a basis for the subspace of fully symmetric states. Two simple protocols for transforming Dicke states are considered. An algebraic characterization of the operations that these protocols induce is obtained in terms of the Weyl algebra $W(2)$ and $\mathfrak{su}(2)$. Fixed points under the application of the combination of both protocols are explicitly determined. Connections with the binary Hamming scheme, the Hadamard transform, and Krawtchouk polynomials are highlighted.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2024

Meta algebras and biorthogonal rational functions: the $q$-Hahn case

A unified algebraic interpretation of both finite families of orthogonal polynomials and biorthogonal rational functions of $q$-Hahn type is provided. The approach relies on the meta $q$-Hahn algebra and its finite-dimensional bidiagonal representations. The functions of $q$-Hahn type are identified as overlaps (up to global factors) between bases solving ordinary or generalized eigenvalue problems in the representation of the meta $q$-Hahn algebra. Moreover, (bi)orthogonality relations, recurrence relations, difference equations and some contiguity relations satisfied by these functions are recovered algebraically using the actions of the generators of the meta $q$-Hahn algebra on various bases.

math.RT↗
arXiv2024

Currents in non-equilibrium steady states of open inhomogeneous $XX$-spin chains

We investigate spin and heat currents in the non-equilibrium steady state of inhomogeneous $XX$-spin chains, which act as interfaces between two bosonic heat baths. Using special functions that diagonalize the single-particle Hamiltonian, we derive closed-form expressions for these currents. For small temperature differences between the baths, we show that inhomogeneities breaking the mirror symmetry of the chain significantly reduce both heat and spin conductivities. Connections with perfect state transfer are discussed.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2024

Entanglement of free-fermion systems, signal processing and algebraic combinatorics

This paper offers a review of recent studies on the entanglement of free-fermion systems on graphs that take advantage of methods pertaining to signal processing and algebraic combinatorics. On the one hand, a parallel with time and band limiting problems is used to obtain a tridiagonal matrix commuting with the chopped correlation matrix in bispectral situations and on the other, the irreducible decomposition of the Terwilliger algebra arising in the context of $P$-polynomial association schemes is seen to yield a simplifying framework.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2024

Bivariate $P$- and $Q$-polynomial structures of the association schemes based on attenuated spaces

The bivariate $P$- and $Q$-polynomial structures of association schemes based on attenuated spaces are examined using recurrence and difference relations of the bivariate polynomials which form the eigenvalues of the scheme. These bispectral properties are obtained from contiguity relations of univariate dual $q$-Hahn and affine $q$-Krawtchouk polynomials. The bispectral algebra associated to the bivariate polynomials is investigated, as well as the subconstituent algebra of the schemes. The properties of the schemes are compared to those of the non-binary Johnson schemes through a limit.

math.CO↗
arXiv2024

Absence of logarithmic enhancement in the entanglement scaling of free fermions on folded cubes

This study investigates the scaling behavior of the ground-state entanglement entropy in a model of free fermions on folded cubes. An analytical expression is derived in the large-diameter limit, revealing a strict adherence to the area law. The absence of the logarithmic enhancement expected for free fermions is explained using a decomposition of folded cubes in chains based on its Terwilliger algebra and $\mathfrak{so}(3)_{-1}$. The entanglement Hamiltonian and its relation to Heun operators are also investigated.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2024

m-distance-regular graphs and their relation to multivariate P-polynomial association schemes

An association scheme is $P$-polynomial if and only if it consists of the distance matrices of a distance-regular graph. Recently, bivariate $P$-polynomial association schemes of type $(α,β)$ were introduced by Bernard et al., and multivariate $P$-polynomial association schemes were later defined by Bannai et al. In this paper, the notion of $m$-distance-regular graph is defined and shown to give a graph interpretation of the multivariate $P$-polynomial association schemes. Various examples are provided. Refined structures and additional constraints for multivariate $P$-polynomial association schemes and $m$-distance-regular graphs are also considered. In particular, bivariate $P$-polynomial schemes of type $(α, β)$ are discussed, and their connection to 2-distance-regular graphs is established.

math.CO↗
arXiv2023

Entanglement of inhomogeneous free fermions on hyperplane lattices

We introduce an inhomogeneous model of free fermions on a $(D-1)$-dimensional lattice with $D(D-1)/2$ continuous parameters that control the hopping strength between adjacent sites. We solve this model exactly, and find that the eigenfunctions are given by multidimensional generalizations of Krawtchouk polynomials. We construct a Heun operator that commutes with the chopped correlation matrix, and compute the entanglement entropy numerically for $D=2,3,4$, for a wide range of parameters. For $D=2$, we observe oscillations in the sub-leading contribution to the entanglement entropy, for which we conjecture an exact expression. For $D>2$, we find logarithmic violations of the area law for the entanglement entropy with nontrivial dependence on the parameters.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2023

Multipartite information of free fermions on Hamming graphs

We investigate multipartite information and entanglement measures in the ground state of a free-fermion model defined on a Hamming graph. Using the known diagonalization of the adjacency matrix, we solve the model and construct the ground-state correlation matrix. Moreover, we find all the eigenvalues of the chopped correlation matrix when the subsystem consists of $n$ disjoint Hamming subgraphs embedded in a larger one. These results allow us to find an exact formula for the entanglement entropy of disjoint graphs, as well as for the mutual and tripartite information. We use the exact formulas for these measures to extract their asymptotic behavior in two distinct thermodynamic limits, and find excellent match with the numerical calculations. In particular, we find that the entanglement entropy admits a logarithmic violation of the area law which decreases the amount of entanglement compared to the area law scaling.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2022

Computation of entanglement entropy in inhomogeneous free fermions chains by algebraic Bethe ansatz

The computation of the entanglement entropy for inhomogeneous free fermions chains based on q-Racah polynomials is considered. The eigenvalues of the truncated correlation matrix are obtained from the diagonalization of the associated Heun operator via the algebraic Bethe ansatz. In the special case of chains based on dual q-Hahn polynomials, the eigenvectors and eigenvalues are expressed in terms of symmetric polynomials evaluated on the Bethe roots.

math-ph↗