arXiv subjects

Zhoutao Lei

Publications and source records attributed to Zhoutao Lei.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Cell-Dependent Criticality for Quantum Metrology

Exploiting enhanced sensitivity of a system in the vicinity of a phase transition boundary, critical quantum metrology to date still suffers from gap-closure related bottleneck effects, namely, critical slowing down of the sensing dynamics and a drastic shrinking of the parameter sensing window. To alleviate the said bottleneck inherent to any homogeneous lattice used for sensing, here we propose to leverage the intrinsic hopping inhomogeneity arising from bosonic ladder-operator matrix elements in Fock-space lattices (FSLs). Specifically, using a two-mode Jaynes--Cummings-type model, we show that the sensing parameter can be imprinted onto a topological zero-energy mode of the FSL. The key system parameters thus become cell dependent, effectively tracing out a curve in a topological phase diagram. Cell-dependent criticality emerges when this curve crosses or approaches a topological phase boundary, without globally tuning the lattice close to criticality. An external control parameter reshapes this curve, continuously tuning the scaling of the quantum Fisher information from the standard to the Heisenberg scaling while maintaining broad sensing coverage and a reduced gap cost. Furthermore, a local photon-number measurement on a single cavity saturates the quantum Fisher information. These results identify FSLs as a scalable and practical route to criticality-based quantum metrology.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Occupation-selective topological pumping from Floquet gauge fields

Topological pumping is conventionally governed by single-particle band topology. Here we show that promoting tunneling to a dynamical, occupation-conditioned variable fundamentally reshapes this paradigm, leading to occupation-selective topological pumping. In a periodically driven one-dimensional superlattice with density-dependent hopping, two-body bound states (doublons) acquire Chern numbers distinct from those of single particles and exhibit quantized transport even when the single-particle pump is trivial, including counter-propagating responses. We identify a dynamical-gauge-field mechanism that induces topological phase transitions in the bound-state sector absent from the single-particle spectrum. Furthermore, the gauge field concentrates Berry curvature into sharply localized resonant regions without compromising adiabatic quantization. A Floquet realization with ultracold atoms is proposed to realize such occupation-selective pumping. Our results reveal a mechanism for occupation-selective topological responses that can persist across higher-occupancy bound states.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2026

Non-Abelian interference of topological edge states

Topological boundary states exhibit distinctive properties, including unidirectional propagation and noise robustness, which hold significant potential for advancing the performance of quantum science and technology. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of non-Abelian quantum interference and entanglement generation, protected by dual symmetries (time-independent inversion and time-dependent interchain), in coupled Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chains. Specifically, in a multichain system, we first achieve tunable topological transfer of a single particle, where the destination chain is selected by the permutation sequence. We then extend this to two particles, observing a non-Abelian Hong-Ou-Mandel interference that generates spatially entangled NOON states whose properties are dictated by the permutation sequence. Our work establishes an alternative pathway for exploring non-Abelian topology applied to quantum science and technology, enabled by the unique protection of time-dependent symmetry.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Inter-species topological phases via a dynamical gauge field

We uncover a class of inter-species topological phases in a one-dimensional lattice, loaded with two species of non-identical particles interacting via a dynamical gauge field (DGF). Two types of topological states are found to emerge from different inter-species topology activated by the DGF. Specifically, edge confined states with co-localization of both species arise from an extrinsic inter-species topology, which can be decomposed into the single-particle topology for each species. On the other hand, bulk bound states with extended distribution emerge from an intrinsic inter-species topology that cannot be understood from single-particle ones. The two classes of inter-species topology are found to be independent of each other, characterized by different sets of inter-species topological invariants. Thus, their topological states can coexist in certain parameter regimes and compete with each other, leading to distinguished dynamical signatures. We further propose a feasible cold-atom realization of our model to demonstrate experimental accessibility of inter-species topological phases. Our work establishes inter-species topology as a new organizing principle of topological matter, revealing how correlations between distinct particle species can generate topological phenomena beyond single-particle paradigms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Diagnosing Floquet Chern and anomalous topological insulators based on Bloch oscillations

It is challenging to distinguish Floquet Chern insulator (FCI) and Floquet anomalous topological insulator (FATI) because of their common features of chiral edge states and far away from equilibrium. A hybrid straight-curved waveguide array is proposed to enable topological phase transitions from FCI to FATI and show how to diagnose the two phases using Bloch oscillations. As a proof of principle, the hybrid straight-curved waveguide array is designed as a straight honeycomb waveguide array nested in an asynchronous curved Kagome waveguide array. Under a two-dimensional (2D) tilted potential created by the spatial gradient of refractive indices, an initial Gaussian-like wavepacket undergoes 2D Bloch oscillations, displaying quasi-quantized displacement in the FCI and no drift in the FATI. This approach offers a direct and unambiguous method to diagnose Floquet topological phases from the bulk response.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Topological Dynamics and Correspondences in Composite Exceptional Rings

The study of unconventional phases and elucidation of correspondences between topological invariants and their intriguing properties are pivotal in topological physics. Here, we investigate a complex exceptional ring (CER), composed of a third-order exceptional ring and multiple Weyl exceptional rings, and establish a direct correspondence between Chern numbers and the distinctive behaviors of these structures. We show that band braiding during quasistatic encircling processes correlates with nontrivial Chern numbers, resulting in triple (double) periodic spectra for topologically nontrivial (trivial) middle bands. Moreover, Chern numbers predict mode transfer during dynamical encircling. Experimental schemes for realizing CER in cold atoms are proposed, emphasizing the crucial role of Chern numbers as both measurable quantity and descriptor of exceptional physics in dissipative systems. This discovery broadens topological classifications in non-Hermitian systems, with promising applications in quantum computing and metrology.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2025

Symmetry-protected Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana interference and non-adiabatic topological transport of edge states

We systematically investigate Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana (LZSM) interference under chiral-mirror-like symmetry and propose its application to non-adiabatic topological transport of edge states. Protected by this symmetry, complete destructive interference emerges and can be characterized through occupation probability. This symmetry-protected LZSM interference enables state transitions to be achieved within remarkably short time scales. To demonstrate our mechanism, we provide two distinctive two-level systems as examples and survey them in detail. By tuning evolution speed or increasing holding time, the complete destructive interferences are observed. Furthermore, we make use of this mechanism for topological edge states of Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chain by taking them as an isolated two-level system. Through carefully designed time sequences, we construct symmetry-protected LZSM interference of topological edge states, enabling non-adiabatic topological transport. Our work unveils an alternative way to study quantum control, quantum state transfer, and quantum communication via non-adiabatic topological transport.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference in a temporal-average-inversion-symmetric chain

We show how to implement tunable beam splitter and Hong-Ou-Mandel interference in the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain by manipulating the topological edge states adiabatically. The boson initially injected in the one end of the chain can be transferred to the two-end with a tunable proportion depends on the dynamical phases accumulated during the adiabatic evolution. We also observe Hong-Ou-Mandel interference via the tunable beam splitter ($50:50$) and achieve a spatially entangled two-particle NOON state. We demonstrate the robustness of our proposal under chiral- and time-reversal-symmetry-preserving disorder. However, the chiral symmetry is scarce for realist system. Therefore, we demonstrate Hong-Ou-Mandel interference are robust to inversion symmetric disorder breaking the chiral symmetry, highlighting the protection of inversion symmetry. More importantly, the inversion symmetry violated by static disorder can be restored for more common situations where disorder becomes time dependent, giving rise to the temporal-average-inversion-symmetry protected Hong-Ou-Mandel interference. Our approach opens a new way to study quantum effects in topological matter with potential applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Activating non-Hermitian skin modes by parity-time symmetry breaking

Parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetry is a cornerstone of non-Hermitian physics as it ensures real energies for stable experimental realization of non-Hermitian phenomena. In this work, we propose $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry as a paradigm for designing rich families of higher-dimensional non-Hermitian states with unique bulk, surface, hinge or corner dynamics. Through systematically breaking or restoring $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry in different sectors of a system, we can selectively activate or manipulate the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) in both the bulk and topological boundary states. Some fascinating phenomena include the directional toggling of the NHSE, and the flow of boundary states without chiral or dynamical pumping, developed from selective boundary NHSE. Our results extend richly into 3D or higher, with more sophisticated interplay with selective bulk and boundary NHSE and charge-parity ($\mathcal{CP}$) symmetry. Based on non-interacting lattices, $\mathcal{PT}$-activated NHSEs can be observed in various optical, photonic, electric and quantum platforms that admit gain/loss and non-reciprocity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Magnon boundary states tailored by longitudinal spin-spin interactions and topology

Since longitudinal spin-spin interaction is ubiquitous in magnetic materials, it is very interesting to explore the interplay between topology and longitudinal spin-spin interaction. Here, we examine the role of longitudinal spin-spin interaction on topological magnon excitations. Remarkably, even for single-magnon excitations, we discover topological edge states and defect edge states of magnon excitations in a dimerized Heisenberg XXZ chain and their topological properties can be distinguished via adiabatic quantum transport. We uncover topological phase transitions induced by longitudinal spin-spin interactions whose boundary is analytically obtained via the transfer matrix method. For multi-magnon excitations, even-magnon bound states are found to be always topologically trivial, but odd-magnon bound states may be topologically nontrivial due to the interplay between the transverse dimerization and the longitudinal spin-spin interaction. For two-dimensional spin systems, the longitudinal spin-spin interaction contributes to the coexistence of defect corner states, second-order topological corner states and first-order topological edge states. Our work opens an avenue for exploring topological magnon excitations and has potential applications in topological magnon devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Topological classification of Higher-order topological phases with nested band inversion surfaces

Higher-order topological phases (HOTPs) hold gapped bulk bands and topological boundary states localized in boundaries with codimension higher than one. In this paper, we provide a unified construction and topological characterization of HOTPs for the full Altland-Zirnbauer tenfold symmetry classes, based on a method known as nested band inversion surfaces (BISs). Specifically, HOTPs built on this method are decomposed into a series of subsystems, and higher-order topological boundary states emerges from the interplay of their first-order topology. Our analysis begins with a general discussion of HOTPs in continuous Hamiltonians for each symmetry class, then moves on to several lattice examples illustrating the topological characterization based on the nested-BIS method. Despite the example minimal models possessing several spatial symmetries, our method does not rely on any spatial symmetry, and can be easily extended into arbitrary orders of topology in dimensions. Furthermore, we extend our discussion to systems with asymmetric boundary states induced by two different mechanisms, namely, crossed BISs that break a $\mathcal{C}_4$ rotation symmetry, and non-Clifford operators that break certain chiral-mirror symmetries of the minimal models.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Tunable symmetry-protected higher-order topological states with fermionic atoms in bilayer optical lattices

Higher-order topological states that possess gapped bulk energy bands and exotic topologically protected boundary states with at least two dimension lower than the bulk have significantly opened a new perspective for understanding of topological quantum matters. Here, we propose to generate two-dimensional topological boundary states for implementing synthetic magnetic flux of ultracold atoms trapped in bilayer optical lattices, which includes Chern insulator, Dirac semimetals, and second-order topological phase (SOTP) by the interplay of the two-photon detuning and effective Zeeman shift. These observed topological phases can be well characterized by the energy gap of bulk, Wilson loop spectra, and the spin textures at the higher symmetric points of system. We show that the SOTP exhibits a pair of $0$D boundary states. While the phases of Dirac semimetals and Chern insulator support the conventional $1$D boundary states due to the principle of bulk-boundary correspondence. Strikingly, the emerged boundary states for Dirac semimetals and SOTP are topologically protected by $\cal P T$-symmetry and chiral-mirror symmetry ($\mathcal{\widetilde{M}}_α$), respectively. In particular, the location of $0$D corner states for SOTP which are associated with existing $\mathcal{\widetilde{M}}_α$-symmetry can be highly manipulated by tuning magnetic flux. Our scheme herein provides a platform for emerging exotic topological boundary states, which may facilitate the study of higher-order topological phases in ultracold atomic gases.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Unpaired topological triply degenerate point for spin-tensor-momentum-coupled ultracold atoms

The realization of triply degenerate points (TDPs) with exotic fermionic excitations has opened a new perspective for the understanding of our nature. Here we explore the coexistence of single unpaired TDP and multiple twofold Weyl points (WPs) and propose an experimental scheme with ultracold pseudospin-1 atomic gases trapped in optical lattices. We show that the predicted single unpaired TDP emerged by the interplay of quadratic spin-vector- and spin-tensor-momentum-coupling could possess a topological nontrivial middle band. This exotic TDP with mirror symmetry breaking is essential different from the recently observed TDPs that must appear in pairs due to the Nielsen-Ninomiya theorem and host the topological trivial middle band. Strikingly, the topologically protected Fermi-arc states directly connect the unpaired TDP with additional WPs, in contrast to the conventional Fermi-arc states that connect the same degeneracies of band degenerate points with opposite chirality. Furthermore, the different types of TDPs with unique linking structure of Fermi arcs can be readily distinguished by measuring spin texture along high-symmetry lines of the system. Our scheme provides a platform for emerging new fermions with exotic physical phenomena and versatile device applications.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2020

Symmetry-Protected Topological Phase for Spin-Tensor-Momentum-Coupled Ultracold Atoms

We propose a realizable experiment scheme to construct a one-dimensional synthetic magnetic flux lattice with spin-tensor-momentum coupled spin-1 atoms and explore its exotic topological states. Different from the Altland-Zirnbauer classification, we show that our system hosts a symmetryprotected phase protected by a magnetic group symmetry (M) and characterized by a Z2 topological invariant. In single-particle spectra, we show that the topological nontrivial phase supports two kinds of edge states, which include two (four) zero-energy edge modes in the absence (presence) of two-photon detuning. We further study the bulk-edge correspondence in a non-Hermitian model by taking into account the particle dissipation. It is shown that the non-Hermitian system preserves the bulk-edge correspondence under the M symmetry but exhibits the non-Hermitian skin effect with breaking the M symmetry at nonzero magnetic flux. This work provides insights in understanding the exotic topological quantum states of high-spin systems and facilitating their experimental explorations.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗