arXiv subjects

Unai Aseginolaza

Publications and source records attributed to Unai Aseginolaza.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Toward Quantum Utility in Correlated Topological Matter: Variational Preparation of Fractional Quantum Hall Manifolds

We investigate the use of variational quantum algorithms to prepare and characterize fractional quantum Hall states on near-term quantum processors. Focusing on the $ν=1/3$ Laughlin phase described by the $V_1$ Haldane pseudopotential, we formulate the lowest-Landau-level problem in second quantization, and implement particle-number-preserving variational circuits combined with the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) and variational quantum deflation (VQD). We benchmark the approach in two complementary geometries: Haldane sphere and torus shape. On the Haldane sphere, the target state is a unique zero-energy Laughlin ground state, providing a controlled test of the variational workflow and of excited-state reconstruction. On the torus, the problem retains the genuinely two-dimensional periodic character of the quantum Hall liquid and exhibits the threefold topological ground-state degeneracy expected for the $ν=1/3$ fractional filling factor. This feature makes the torus a more demanding benchmark than the quasi-one-dimensional cylinder or thin-torus limits commonly exploited in state-preparation quantum protocols. We benchmark the hardware-optimized variational states against exact diagonalization using energy estimates, error-mitigated observables, and subspace-containment diagnostics. Our results show that hybrid quantum algorithms can approximately reconstruct the low-energy structure of small fractional quantum Hall systems, including the topological ground-state manifold on the torus. Beyond serving as a benchmark for quantum hardware, this geometry-resolved approach provides a route toward quantum simulations of fractional Chern insulators and strongly correlated topological phases in realistic two-dimensional materials.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

A Useful Metric for the NISQ Era: Qubit Error Probability and Its Role in Zero Noise Extrapolation

Accurate assessment and management of errors is indispensable for extracting useful results from noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. In this work, we propose the qubit error probability (QEP), a device specific metric that combines relaxation, dephasing, gate, and measurement contributions into a single per qubit figure of merit computable before execution. Leveraging QEP as the control variable, we revisit zero noise extrapolation (ZNE) by adding pairs of controlled native two-qubit gates on all connected qubit pairs to generate circuits with successively larger mean QEP; the zero error limit is then approximated by a linear regression of the measured observable against those values. Benchmarking on IBM Quantum Heron processors, we apply QEP guided ZNE to first order Trotterized simulations of the two dimensional transverse field Ising model, chosen as a representative interacting many body system, involving up to 68 qubits and 15 Trotter steps. In regimes where the raw circuits exhibit a finite mean QEP, the method suppresses observable errors beyond those attainable with circuit depth scaled ZNE, while requiring only three noise scaled evaluations and no additional classical post processing. These results demonstrate that QEP serves as a transparent and efficient error metric, and that its integration into ZNE provides a practical route to reliability gains on current superconducting hardware, without the resource costs associated with full quantum error correction.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Bending rigidity, sound propagation and ripples in flat graphene

Despite many of the applications of graphene rely on its uneven stiffness and high thermal conductivity, the mechanical properties of graphene, and in general of all 2D materials, are still elusive. The harmonic theory predicts a quadratic dispersion for the flexural acoustic vibrational mode, which leads the unphysical result that long wavelength in-plane acoustic modes decay before vibrating one period, preventing the propagation of sound. The robustness of the quadratic dispersion has been questioned by arguing that the anharmonic phonon-phonon interaction linearizes it. However, this implies a divergent bending rigidity in the long wavelength limit not reproduced experimentally. Here we show that rotational symmetry protects the quadratic flexural dispersion against phonon-phonon interactions and that, consequently, the bending stiffness is non-divergent irrespective of the temperature. Our non-perturbative anharmonic calculations also determine that sound propagation coexists with a quadratic dispersion. We also show that the temperature dependence of the height fluctuations of the membrane, known as ripples, is fully determined by thermal or quantum fluctuations, but without the anharmonic suppression of their amplitude previously assumed. The universality of our conclusions reconcile experimental evidence and theory not just in graphene, but all 2D materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Strong anharmonicity and high thermoelectric efficiency in high temperature SnS from first-principles

SnS and SnSe are isoelectronic materials with a common phase diagram. Recently, SnSe was found to be the most efficient intrinsic thermoelectric material in its high-temperature Cmcm phase above 800 K. Making use of first-principles calculations, here we show that the electronic and vibrational properties of both materials are very similar in this phase and, consequently, SnS is also expected to have a high thermoelectric figure of merit at high temperature in its Cmcm phase. In fact, the electronic power factor and lattice thermal conductivity are comparable for both materials, which ensures a similar figure of merit. As in the case of SnSe, the vibrational properties of SnS in the Cmcm phase are far from trivial and are dominated by huge anharmonic effects. Its phonon spectra are strongly renormalized by anharmonicity and the spectral functions of some particular in-plane modes depict anomalous non-lorentzian profiles. Finally, we show that non-perturbative anharmonic effects in the third-order force-constants are crucial in the calculation of the lattice thermal conductivity. Our results motivate new experiments in the high temperature regime to measure the figure of merit of SnS.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Phonon Collapse and Second-Order Phase Transition in Thermoelectric SnSe

Since 2014 the layered semiconductor SnSe in the high-temperature Cmcm phase is known to be the most efficient thermoelectric material. Making use of first-principles calculations we show that its vibrational and thermal transport properties are determined by huge non-perturbative anharmonic effects. We show that the transition from the Cmcm phase to the low-symmetry Pnma is a second-order phase transition driven by the collapse of a zone border phonon, whose frequency vanishes at the transition temperature. Our calculations show that the spectral function of the in-plane vibrational modes are strongly anomalous with shoulders and double-peak structures. We calculate the lattice thermal conductivity obtaining good agreement with experiments only when non-perturbative anharmonic scattering is included. Our results suggest that the good thermoelectric efficiency of SnSe is strongly affected by the non-perturbative anharmonicity. We expect similar effects to occur in other thermoelectric materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Anharmonicity and the isotope effect in superconducting lithium at high pressures: a first-principles approach

Recent experiments [Schaeffer 2015] have shown that lithium presents an extremely anomalous isotope effect in the 15-25 GPa pressure range. In this article we have calculated the anharmonic phonon dispersion of $\mathrm{^7Li}$ and $\mathrm{^6Li}$ under pressure, their superconducting transition temperatures, and the associated isotope effect. We have found a huge anharmonic renormalization of a transverse acoustic soft mode along $Γ$K in the fcc phase, the expected structure at the pressure range of interest. In fact, the anharmonic correction dynamically stabilizes the fcc phase above 25 GPa. However, we have not found any anomalous scaling of the superconducting temperature with the isotopic mass. Additionally, we have also analyzed whether the two lithium isotopes adopting different structures could explain the observed anomalous behavior. According to our enthalpy calculations including zero-point motion and anharmonicity it would not be possible in a stable regime.

cond-mat.supr-con↗