arXiv subjects

U. -J. Wiese

Publications and source records attributed to U. -J. Wiese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Broken Symmetry and Fractionalized Flux Strings in a Staggered U(1) Pure Gauge Theory

Inspired by self-adjoint extensions of the electric field operator in the Hamiltonian formalism, we extend the Wilsonian framework of Abelian lattice gauge theory by introducing a modified action parameterized by an angle $α$, where the ordinary Wilson theory corresponds to $α=0$. Choosing instead $α=π$ (the "staggered" case) gives the only other theory in the family which preserves all symmetries of the original model at the microscopic level. We study the case of $3D$ $\mathrm{U}(1)$ pure gauge theory, simulating the staggered case of this model numerically in its dual formulation. We find evidence of a continuum limit with a spontaneously broken $\mathbb{Z}_2$ single-site translational symmetry, in contrast to the ordinary theory. Moreover, the confining string fractionalizes into multiple strands which separate spatial regions in distinct ground states of the broken symmetry.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Self-adjoint Momentum Operator for a Particle Confined in a Multi-Dimensional Cavity

Based on the recent construction of a self-adjoint momentum operator for a particle confined in a one-dimensional interval, we extend the construction to arbitrarily shaped regions in any number of dimensions. Different components of the momentum vector do not commute with each other unless very special conditions are met. As such, momentum measurements should be considered one direction at a time. We also extend other results, such as the Ehrenfest theorem and the interpretation of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation to higher dimensions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Bouncing Wave Packets, Ehrenfest Theorem, and Uncertainty Relation based upon a new Concept for the Momentum of a Particle in a Box

For a particle in a box, the operator $-i\partial_x$ is not self-adjoint and thus does not qualify as the physical momentum. As a result, in general the Ehrenfest theorem is violated. Based upon a recently developed new concept for a self-adjoint momentum operator, we reconsider the theorem and find that it is now indeed satisfied for all physically admissible boundary conditions. We illustrate these results for bouncing wave packets which first spread, then shrink, and return to their original form after a certain revival time. We derive a very simple form of the general Heisenberg-Robertson-Schrödinger uncertainty relation and show that our construction also provides a physical interpretation for it.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Nematic Confined Phases in the $U(1)$ Quantum Link Model on a Triangular Lattice: An Opportunity for Near-Term Quantum Computations of String Dynamics on a Chip

The $U(1)$ quantum link model on the triangular lattice has two rotation-symmetry-breaking nematic confined phases. Static external charges are connected by confining strings consisting of individual strands with fractionalized electric flux. The two phases are separated by a weak first order phase transition with an emergent almost exact $SO(2)$ symmetry. We construct a quantum circuit on a chip to facilitate near-term quantum computations of the non-trivial string dynamics.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2021

Mass and Charge of the Quantum Vortex in the $(2+1)$-d $O(2)$ Scalar Field Theory

Using numerical simulations, a vortex is studied in the broken phase of the $(2+1)$-d $O(2)$-symmetric scalar field theory in the vicinity of the Wilson-Fisher fixed point. The vortex is an infraparticle that is surrounded by a cloud of Goldstone bosons. The $L$-dependence of the vortex mass in a finite $C$-periodic volume $L^2$ leads to the determination of the renormalized vortex charge.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2021

Canonical quantization on the half-line and in an interval based upon a new concept for the momentum in a space with boundaries

For a particle moving on a half-line or in an interval the operator $\hat p = - i \partial_x$ is not self-adjoint and thus does not qualify as the physical momentum. Consequently canonical quantization based on $\hat p$ fails. Based upon a new concept for a self-adjoint momentum operator $\hat p_R$, we show that canonical quantization can indeed be implemented on the half-line and on an interval. Both the Hamiltonian $\hat H$ and the momentum operator $\hat p_R$ are endowed with self-adjoint extension parameters that characterize the corresponding domains $D(\hat H)$ and $D(\hat p_R)$ in the Hilbert space. When one replaces Poisson brackets by commutators, one obtains meaningful results only if the corresponding operator domains are properly taken into account. The new concept for the momentum is used to describe the results of momentum measurements of a quantum mechanical particle that is reflected at impenetrable boundaries, either at the end of the half-line or at the two ends of an interval.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

A New Concept for the Momentum of a Quantum Mechanical Particle in a Box

For a particle in a box, the operator $- i \partial_x$ is not Hermitean. We provide an alternative construction of a momentum operator $p = p_R + i p_I$, which has a Hermitean component $p_R$ that can be extended to a self-adjoint operator, as well as an anti-Hermitean component $i p_I$. This leads to a description of momentum measurements performed on a particle that is strictly limited to the interior of a box.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Simulating Lattice Gauge Theories within Quantum Technologies

Lattice gauge theories, which originated from particle physics in the context of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), provide an important intellectual stimulus to further develop quantum information technologies. While one long-term goal is the reliable quantum simulation of currently intractable aspects of QCD itself, lattice gauge theories also play an important role in condensed matter physics and in quantum information science. In this way, lattice gauge theories provide both motivation and a framework for interdisciplinary research towards the development of special purpose digital and analog quantum simulators, and ultimately of scalable universal quantum computers. In this manuscript, recent results and new tools from a quantum science approach to study lattice gauge theories are reviewed. Two new complementary approaches are discussed: first, tensor network methods are presented - a classical simulation approach - applied to the study of lattice gauge theories together with some results on Abelian and non-Abelian lattice gauge theories. Then, recent proposals for the implementation of lattice gauge theory quantum simulators in different quantum hardware are reported, e.g., trapped ions, Rydberg atoms, and superconducting circuits. Finally, the first proof-of-principle trapped ions experimental quantum simulations of the Schwinger model are reviewed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

SO(3) "Nuclear Physics" with ultracold Gases

An ab initio calculation of nuclear physics from Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the fundamental SU(3) gauge theory of the strong interaction, remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we discuss the emergence of key elements of nuclear physics using an SO(3) lattice gauge theory as a toy model for QCD. We show that this model is accessible to state-of-the-art quantum simulation experiments with ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. First, we demonstrate that our model shares characteristic many-body features with QCD, such as the spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry, its restoration at finite baryon density, as well as the existence of few-body bound states. Then we show that in the one-dimensional case, the dynamics in the gauge invariant sector can be encoded as a spin S=3/2 Heisenberg model, i.e., as quantum magnetism, which has a natural realization with bosonic mixtures in optical lattices, and thus sheds light on the connection between non-Abelian gauge theories and quantum magnetism.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2018

From the $SU(2)$ Quantum Link Model on the Honeycomb Lattice to the Quantum Dimer Model on the Kagomé Lattice: Phase Transition and Fractionalized Flux Strings

We consider the $(2+1)$-d $SU(2)$ quantum link model on the honeycomb lattice and show that it is equivalent to a quantum dimer model on the Kagomé lattice. The model has crystalline confined phases with spontaneously broken translation invariance associated with pinwheel order, which is investigated with either a Metropolis or an efficient cluster algorithm. External half-integer non-Abelian charges (which transform non-trivially under the $\mathbb{Z}(2)$ center of the $SU(2)$ gauge group) are confined to each other by fractionalized strings with a delocalized $\mathbb{Z}(2)$ flux. The strands of the fractionalized flux strings are domain walls that separate distinct pinwheel phases. A second-order phase transition in the 3-d Ising universality class separates two confining phases; one with correlated pinwheel orientations, and the other with uncorrelated pinwheel orientations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Majorana Fermions in a Box

Majorana fermion dynamics may arise at the edge of Kitaev wires or superconductors. Alternatively, it can be engineered by using trapped ions or ultracold atoms in an optical lattice as quantum simulators. This motivates the theoretical study of Majorana fermions confined to a finite volume, whose boundary conditions are characterized by self-adjoint extension parameters. While the boundary conditions for Dirac fermions in $(1+1)$-d are characterized by a 1-parameter family, $λ= - λ^*$, of self-adjoint extensions, for Majorana fermions $λ$ is restricted to $\pm i$. Based on this result, we compute the frequency spectrum of Majorana fermions confined to a 1-d interval. The boundary conditions for Dirac fermions confined to a 3-d region of space are characterized by a 4-parameter family of self-adjoint extensions, which is reduced to two distinct 1-parameter families for Majorana fermions. We also consider the problems related to the quantum mechanical interpretation of the Majorana equation as a single-particle equation. Furthermore, the equation is related to a relativistic Schrödinger equation that does not suffer from these problems.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

CP(N-1) Quantum Field Theories with Alkaline-Earth Atoms in Optical Lattices

We propose a cold atom implementation to attain the continuum limit of (1+1)-d CP(N-1) quantum field theories. These theories share important features with (3+1)-d QCD, such as asymptotic freedom and $θ$ vacua. Moreover, their continuum limit can be accessed via the mechanism of dimensional reduction. In our scheme, the CP(N-1) degrees of freedom emerge at low energies from a ladder system of SU(N) quantum spins, where the N spin states are embodied by the nuclear Zeeman states of alkaline-earth atoms, trapped in an optical lattice. Based on Monte Carlo results, we establish that the continuum limit can be demonstrated by an atomic quantum simulation by employing the feature of asymptotic freedom. We discuss a protocol for the adiabatic state preparation of the ground state of the system, the real-time evolution of a false $θ$-vacuum state after a quench, and we propose experiments to unravel the phase diagram at non-zero density.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Graphical Tensor Product Reduction Scheme for the Lie Algebras so(5) = sp(2), su(3), and g(2)

We develop in detail a graphical tensor product reduction scheme, first described by Antoine and Speiser, for the simple rank 2 Lie algebras so(5) = sp(2), su(3), and g(2). This leads to an efficient practical method to reduce tensor products of irreducible representations into sums of such representations. For this purpose, the 2-dimensional weight diagram of a given representation is placed in a "landscape" of irreducible representations. We provide both the landscapes and the weight diagrams for a large number of representations for the three simple rank 2 Lie algebras. We also apply the algebraic "girdle" method, which is much less efficient for calculations by hand for moderately large representations. Computer code for reducing tensor products, based on the graphical method, has been developed as well and is available from the authors upon request.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

Finite-Volume Energy Spectrum, Fractionalized Strings, and Low-Energy Effective Field Theory for the Quantum Dimer Model on the Square Lattice

We present detailed analytic calculations of finite-volume energy spectra, mean field theory, as well as a systematic low-energy effective field theory for the square lattice quantum dimer model. The analytic considerations explain why a string connecting two external static charges in the confining columnar phase fractionalizes into eight distinct strands with electric flux $\frac{1}{4}$. An emergent approximate spontaneously broken $SO(2)$ symmetry gives rise to a pseudo-Goldstone boson. Remarkably, this soft phonon-like excitation, which is massless at the Rokhsar-Kivelson (RK) point, exists far beyond this point. The Goldstone physics is captured by a systematic low-energy effective field theory. We determine its low-energy parameters by matching the analytic effective field theory with exact diagonalization results and Monte Carlo data. This confirms that the model exists in the columnar (and not in a plaquette or mixed) phase all the way to the RK point.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Fate of Accidental Symmetries of the Relativistic Hydrogen Atom in a Spherical Cavity

The non-relativistic hydrogen atom enjoys an accidental $SO(4)$ symmetry, that enlarges the rotational $SO(3)$ symmetry, by extending the angular momentum algebra with the Runge-Lenz vector. In the relativistic hydrogen atom the accidental symmetry is partially lifted. Due to the Johnson-Lippmann operator, which commutes with the Dirac Hamiltonian, some degeneracy remains. When the non-relativistic hydrogen atom is put in a spherical cavity of radius $R$ with perfectly reflecting Robin boundary conditions, characterized by a self-adjoint extension parameter $γ$, in general the accidental $SO(4)$ symmetry is lifted. However, for $R = (l+1)(l+2) a$ (where $a$ is the Bohr radius and $l$ is the orbital angular momentum) some degeneracy remains when $γ= \infty$ or $γ= \frac{2}{R}$. In the relativistic case, we consider the most general spherically and parity invariant boundary condition, which is characterized by a self-adjoint extension parameter. In this case, the remnant accidental symmetry is always lifted in a finite volume. We also investigate the accidental symmetry in the context of the Pauli equation, which sheds light on the proper non-relativistic treatment including spin. In that case, again some degeneracy remains for specific values of $R$ and $γ$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

From Doubled Chern-Simons-Maxwell Lattice Gauge Theory to Extensions of the Toric Code

We regularize compact and non-compact Abelian Chern-Simons-Maxwell theories on a spatial lattice using the Hamiltonian formulation. We consider a doubled theory with gauge fields living on a lattice and its dual lattice. The Hilbert space of the theory is a product of local Hilbert spaces, each associated with a link and the corresponding dual link. The two electric field operators associated with the link-pair do not commute. In the non-compact case with gauge group $\mathbb{R}$, each local Hilbert space is analogous to the one of a charged "particle" moving in the link-pair group space $\mathbb{R}^2$ in a constant "magnetic" background field. In the compact case, the link-pair group space is a torus $U(1)^2$ threaded by $k$ units of quantized "magnetic" flux, with $k$ being the level of the Chern-Simons theory. The holonomies of the torus $U(1)^2$ give rise to two self-adjoint extension parameters, which form two non-dynamical background lattice gauge fields that explicitly break the manifest gauge symmetry from $U(1)$ to $\mathbb{Z}(k)$. The local Hilbert space of a link-pair then decomposes into representations of a magnetic translation group. In the pure Chern-Simons limit of a large "photon" mass, this results in a $\mathbb{Z}(k)$-symmetric variant of Kitaev's toric code, self-adjointly extended by the two non-dynamical background lattice gauge fields. Electric charges on the original lattice and on the dual lattice obey mutually anyonic statistics with the statistics angle $\frac{2 π}{k}$. Non-Abelian $U(k)$ Berry gauge fields that arise from the self-adjoint extension parameters may be interesting in the context of quantum information processing.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

Two-dimensional Lattice Gauge Theories with Superconducting Quantum Circuits

A quantum simulator of U(1) lattice gauge theories can be implemented with superconducting circuits. This allows the investigation of confined and deconfined phases in quantum link models, and of valence bond solid and spin liquid phases in quantum dimer models. Fractionalized confining strings and the real-time dynamics of quantum phase transitions are accessible as well. Here we show how state-of-the-art superconducting technology allows us to simulate these phenomena in relatively small circuit lattices. By exploiting the strong non-linear couplings between quantized excitations emerging when superconducting qubits are coupled, we show how to engineer gauge invariant Hamiltonians, including ring-exchange and four-body Ising interactions. We demonstrate that, despite decoherence and disorder effects, minimal circuit instances allow us to investigate properties such as the dynamics of electric flux strings, signaling confinement in gauge invariant field theories. The experimental realization of these models in larger superconducting circuits could address open questions beyond current computational capability.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Holes Localized on a Skyrmion in a Doped Antiferromagnet on the Honeycomb Lattice: Symmetry Analysis

Using the low-energy effective field theory for hole-doped antiferromagnets on the honeycomb lattice, we study the localization of holes on Skyrmions, as a potential mechanism for the preformation of Cooper pairs. In contrast to the square lattice case, for the standard radial profile of the Skyrmion on the honeycomb lattice, only holes residing in one of the two hole pockets can get localized. This differs qualitatively from hole pairs bound by magnon exchange, which is most attractive between holes residing in different momentum space pockets. On the honeycomb lattice, magnon exchange unambiguously leads to $f$-wave pairing, which is also observed experimentally. Using the collective-mode quantization of the Skyrmion, we determine the quantum numbers of the localized hole pairs. Again, $f$-wave symmetry is possible, but other competing pairing symmetries cannot be ruled out.

cond-mat.str-el↗