Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “density matrix”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11

Natural orbitals for the ab initio no-core configuration interaction approach

Ab initio no-core configuration interaction (NCCI) calculations for the nuclear many-body problem have traditionally relied upon an antisymmetrized product (Slater determinant) basis built from harmonic oscillator orbitals. The accuracy of such calculations is limited by the finite dimensions which are computationally feasible for the truncated many-body space. We therefore seek to improve the accuracy obtained for a given basis size by optimizing the choice of single-particle orbitals. Natural orbitals, which diagonalize the one-body density matrix, provide a basis which maximizes the occupation of low-lying orbitals, thus accelerating convergence in a configuration-interaction basis, while also possibly providing physical insight into the single-particle structure of the many-body wave function. We describe the implementation of natural orbitals in the NCCI framework and examine the nature of the natural orbitals thus obtained, the properties of the resulting many-body wave functions, and the convergence of observables. After taking 3 He as an illustrative testbed, we explore aspects of NCCI calculations with natural orbitals for the ground state of the p-shell neutron halo nucleus 6 He .

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Block orbital-selective Mott insulators: A spin excitation analysis

We present a comprehensive study of the spin excitations—as measured by the dynamical spin structure factor S(q,ω)—of the so-called block-magnetic state of low-dimensional orbital-selective Mott insulators. We realize this state via both a multi-orbital Hubbard model and a generalized Kondo-Heisenberg Hamiltonian. Due to various competing energy scales present in the models, the system develops periodic ferromagnetic islands of various shapes and sizes, which are antiferromagnetically coupled. The 2×2 particular case was already found experimentally in the ladder material BaFe2Se3 that becomes superconducting under pressure. Here we discuss the electronic density as well as Hubbard and Hund coupling dependence of S(q,ω) using density matrix renormalization group method. Several interesting features were identified: (1) An acoustic (dispersive spin-wave) mode develops. (2) The spin-wave bandwidth establishes a new energy scale that is strongly dependent on the size of the magnetic island and becomes abnormally small for large clusters. (3) Optical (dispersionless spin excitation) modes are present for all block states studied here. In addition, a variety of phenomenological spin Hamiltonians have been investigated but none matches entirely our results that were obtained primarily at intermediate Hubbard U strengths. Our comprehensive analysis provides theoretical guidance and motivation to crystal growers to search for appropriate candidate materials to realize the block states, and to neutron scattering experimentalists to confirm the exotic dynamical magnetic properties unveiled here, with a rich mixture of acoustic and optical features.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Composite Fermi Liquid at Zero Magnetic Field in Twisted MoTe 2

Here, the pursuit of exotic phases of matter outside of the extreme conditions of a quantizing magnetic field is a long-standing quest of solid state physics. Recent experiments have observed spontaneous valley polarization and fractional Chern insulators in zero magnetic field in twisted bilayers of MoTe 2 , at partial filling of the topological valence band (ν =-2/3 and -3/5). We study the topological valence band at half filling, using exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group calculations. We discover a composite Fermi liquid (CFL) phase even at zero magnetic field that covers a large portion of the phase diagram near twist angle ~3.6°. The CFL is a non-Fermi liquid phase with metallic behavior despite the absence of Landau quasiparticles. We discuss experimental implications including the competition between the CFL and a Fermi liquid, which can be tuned with a displacement field. The topological valence band has excellent quantum geometry over a wide range of twist angles and a small bandwidth that is, remarkably, reduced by interactions. These key properties stabilize the exotic zero field quantum Hall phases. Finally, we present an optical signature involving “extinguished” optical responses that detects Chern bands with ideal quantum geometry.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Finite-size subthermal regime in disordered SU ( N ) -symmetric Heisenberg chains

SU⁡(N) symmetry is incompatible with the many-body localized (MBL) phase, even when strong disorder is present. However, recent studies have shown that finite-size SU⁡(2) systems exhibit nonergodic, subthermal behavior, characterized by the breakdown of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis, and by the excited eigenstates entanglement entropy that is intermediate between area and volume law. In this paper, we extend previous studies of the SU⁡(2)-symmetric disordered Heisenberg model to larger systems, using the time-dependent density matrix renormalization group (tDMRG) method. We simulate quench dynamics from weakly entangled initial states up to long times, finding robust subthermal behavior at stronger disorder. Although we find an increased tendency towards thermalization at larger system sizes, the subthermal regime persists at intermediate time scales, nevertheless, and therefore should be accessible experimentally. At weaker disorder, we observe signatures of thermalization; however, entanglement entropy exhibits slow sublinear growth, in contrast to conventional thermalizing systems. Furthermore, we study dynamics of the SU⁡(3)-symmetric disordered Heisenberg model. Similarly, strong disorder drives the system into subthermal regime, albeit thermalizing phase is broader compared to the SU⁡(2) case. Finally, our findings demonstrate the robustness of the subthermal regime in spin chains with non-Abelian continuous symmetry, and are consistent with eventual thermalization at large system sizes and long time scales, suggested by previous studies.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Spin dynamics of the generalized quantum spin compass chain

Here we calculate the dynamical spin structure factor of the generalized spin-1/2 compass spin chain using the density matrix renormalization group. The model, also known as the twisted Kitaev spin chain, was recently proposed to be relevant for the description of the spin chain compound CoNb 2 O 6 . It features bond-dependent interactions and interpolates between an Ising chain and a one-dimensional variant of Kitaev's honeycomb spin model. The structure factor, in turn, is found to interpolate from gapped and nondispersive in the Ising limit to gapless with nontrivial continua in the Kitaev limit. In particular, the component of the structure factor perpendicular to the Ising directions changes abruptly at the Kitaev point into a dispersionless continuum due to the emergence of an extensive ground-state degeneracy. We show this continuum is consistent with analytical Jordan-Wigner results. We also discuss implications for future inelastic scattering experiments and applications to materials, particularly CoNb 2 O 6 .

1-dimensional spin chains↗

Quantum Phase Diagram and Spontaneously Emergent Topological Chiral Superconductivity in Doped Triangular-Lattice Mott Insulators

The topological superconducting state is a highly sought-after quantum state hosting topological order and Majorana excitations. Here, in this Letter, we explore the mechanism to realize the topological superconductivity (TSC) in the doped Mott insulators with time-reversal symmetry (TRS). Through large-scale density matrix renormalization group study of an extended triangular-lattice t–J model on the six- and eight-leg cylinders, we identify a d + id-wave chiral TSC with spontaneous TRS breaking, which is characterized by a Chern number C=2 and quasi-long-range superconducting order. We map out the quantum phase diagram with by tuning the next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) electron hopping and spin interaction. In the weaker NNN-coupling regime, we identify a pseudogaplike phase with a charge stripe order coexisting with fluctuating superconductivity, which can be tuned into d -wave superconductivity by increasing the doping level and system width. The TSC emerges in the intermediate-coupling regime, which has a transition to a d-wave superconducting phase with larger NNN couplings. The emergence of the TSC is driven by geometrical frustrations and hole dynamics which suppress spin correlation and charge order, leading to a topological quantum phase transition.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Tracing the Mott-Hubbard transition in one-dimensional Hubbard models without Umklapp scattering

Here we apply the density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method to a one-dimensional Hubbard model that lacks Umklapp scattering and thus provides an ideal case to study the Mott-Hubbard transition analytically and numerically. The model has a linear dispersion and displays a metal-to-insulator transition when the Hubbard interaction U equals the bandwidth U c = W, where the single-particle gap opens linearly, Δ(U ≥ W) = U - W. The simple nature of the elementary excitations permits us to determine numerically with high accuracy the critical interaction strength and the gap function in the thermodynamic limit. The jump discontinuity of the momentum distribution $n_k$ at the Fermi wave number $k_F$ = 0 cannot be used to locate accurately U c from finite-size systems. However, the slope of $n_k$ at the band edges $k_B$ = ±π, reveals the formation of a single-particle bound state which can be used to determine U c reliably from $n_k$ using accurate finite-size data.

1-dimensional systems↗

Accurate numerical simulations of open quantum systems using spectral tensor trains

Decoherence between qubits is a major bottleneck in quantum computations. Decoherence results from intrinsic quantum and thermal fluctuations as well as noise in the external fields that perform the measurement and preparation processes. With prescribed colored noise spectra for intrinsic and extrinsic noise, we present a numerical method, Quantum Accelerated Stochastic Propagator Evaluation (Q-ASPEN), to solve the time-dependent noise-averaged reduced density matrix in the presence of intrinsic and extrinsic noise. Q-ASPEN is arbitrarily accurate and can be applied to provide estimates for the resources needed to error-correct quantum computations. We employ spectral tensor trains, which combine the advantages of tensor networks and pseudospectral methods, as a variational ansatz to the quantum relaxation problem and optimize the ansatz using methods typically used to train neural networks. Here, the spectral tensor trains in Q-ASPEN make accurate calculations with tens of quantum levels feasible. We present benchmarks for Q-ASPEN on the spin-boson model in the presence of intrinsic noise and on a quantum chain of up to 32 sites in the presence of extrinsic noise. In our benchmark, the memory cost of Q-ASPEN scales as a low-order polynomial in the size of the system once the number of system states surpasses the number of basis functions used in the spectral expansion.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Magnetic excitations, nonclassicality, and quantum wake spin dynamics in the Hubbard chain

Recent work has demonstrated that quantum Fisher information (QFI), a witness of multipartite entanglement, and magnetic Van Hove correlations G(r,t), a probe of local real-space real-time spin dynamics, can be successfully extracted from inelastic neutron scattering on spin systems through accurate measurements of the dynamical spin structure factor S(k,ω). In this work, we apply theoretically these ideas to the half-filled Hubbard chain with nearest-neighbor hopping, away from the strong-coupling limit. This model has nontrivial redistribution of spectral weight in S(k,ω) going from the noninteracting limit (U = 0) to strong coupling (U→∞), where it reduces to the Heisenberg quantum spin chain. We use the density matrix renormalization group to find S(k,ω), from which QFI is then calculated. We find that QFI grows with U. With realistic energy resolution it becomes capable of witnessing bipartite entanglement above U=2.5 (in units of the hopping), where it also changes slope. This point is also proximate to slope changes of the bandwidth W(U) and the half-chain von Neumann entanglement entropy. We compute G(r,t) by Fourier transforming S(k,ω). The results indicate a crossover in the short-time short-distance dynamics at low U characterized by ferromagnetic light-cone wavefronts, to a Heisenberg-type behavior at large U featuring antiferromagnetic light cones and spatially period-doubled antiferromagnetism. We find this crossover has largely been completed by U=3. Our results thus provide evidence that, in several aspects, the strong-coupling limit of the Hubbard chain is reached qualitatively already at a relatively modest interaction strength. We discuss experimental candidates for observing the G(r,t) dynamics found at low U.

1-dimensional systems↗

Characterizing random-singlet state in two-dimensional frustrated quantum magnets and implications for the double perovskite Sr 2 CuTe 1 – x W x O 6

Motivated by the experimental observation of a nonmagnetic phase in compounds with frustration and disorder, we study the ground state of a spin-1/2 square-lattice Heisenberg model with randomly distributed nearest-neighbor J 1 and next-nearest-neighbor J 2 couplings. By using the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) calculation on a cylinder system with a circumference of up to ten lattice sites, we identify a disordered phase between the Néel and stripe magnetic phase with growing J 2 /J 1 in the presence of strong bond randomness. The vanished spin-freezing parameter indicates the absence of spin-glass order. The large-scale DMRG results unveil the size-scaling behaviors of the spin-freezing parameter, the power-law decay of the average spin correlation, and the exponential decay of the typical spin correlation, which all agree with the corresponding behavior in the one-dimensional random-singlet (RS) state and characterize the RS nature of this disordered phase. The DMRG simulation also provides insights and opportunities for characterizing a class of nonmagnetic states in two-dimensional frustrated magnets with disorder. Here, we also compare with existing experiments and suggest more measurements for understanding the spin-liquid-like behaviors in the double perovskite Sr 2 CuTe 1–x W x O 6 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Non-Hermitian approach for quantum plasmonics

Herein, we examine the limits of applicability of a simple non-Hermitian model for exciton/plasmon interactions in the presence of dissipation and dephasing. The model can be used as an alternative to the more complete Lindblad density matrix approach and is computationally and conceptually simpler. We find that optical spectra in the linear regime can be adequately described by this approach. The model can fail, however, under continuous optical driving in some circumstances. In the case of two quantum dots or excitons interacting with a plasmon, the model can also describe coherences and entanglement qualitatively when both dissipation and dephasing are present and quantitatively in the limit with no dephasing. The approach, within a single excitation manifold, is also applied to assess the role of disorder for 50 quantum dots interacting with a plasmon, where we find that, on average, large enough disorder can help stabilize the ensemble average of the open quantum system toward a dark quasi-steady-state much faster than without disorder. Furthermore, while such single excitation manifold calculations in this size limit can readily be done with either the non-Hermitian or Lindblad forms, as one goes to larger Hilbert space sizes, the computational and storage advantages of the non-Hermitian approach can become more useful. Published under license by AIP Publishing.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Phase Diagram of the Easy-Axis Triangular-Lattice 𝐽 1 −𝐽 2 Model

Our work studies the largely unexplored phase diagram of the S = 1/2 easy-axis triangular-lattice J 1 -J 2 model, motivated by recent interest in rare-earth and transition-metal compounds that exhibit strong quantum fluctuations and broad spin excitation continua—hallmarks of spin-liquid behavior. Combining density-matrix renormalization group simulations with analytical insights, we present a comprehensive study of the model that describes these materials. Our results provide compelling evidence for a robust spin-liquid phase stabilized between the exotic supersolid Y phase and the collinear stripe phase, remarkably persistent even in the presence of symmetry-breaking anisotropy. Additionally, we analyze the supersolid Y phase, offering a quantitative characterization of its order parameters and clarifying the surprising absence of a ferromagnetic moment; both features relevant to recent experiments on Ising-like triangular-lattice magnets. Altogether, our work provides the necessary framework and important theoretical guidance to the ongoing searches of the spin liquid and other exotic states in the rare-earth and transition-metal triangular-lattice compounds, as well as for advancing the understanding of anisotropic-exchange magnets.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Polariton spectra under the collective coupling regime. II. 2D non-linear spectra

In our previous work [Mondal et al., J. Chem. Phys. 162, 014114 (2025)], we developed several efficient computational approaches to simulate exciton–polariton dynamics described by the Holstein–Tavis–Cummings (HTC) Hamiltonian under the collective coupling regime. Here, we incorporated these strategies into the previously developed Lindblad-partially linearized density matrix (⁠$\mathscr{L}$-PLDM) approach for simulating 2D electronic spectroscopy (2DES) of exciton–polariton under the collective coupling regime. In particular, we apply the efficient quantum dynamics propagation scheme developed in Paper I to both the forward and the backward propagations in the PLDM and develop an efficient importance sampling scheme and graphics processing unit vectorization scheme that allow us to reduce the computational costs from $\mathscr{O}$($\mathscr{K}$ 2 )$\mathscr{O}$(T 3 ) to $\mathscr{O}$($\mathscr{K}$)$\mathscr{O}$(T 0 ) for the 2DES simulation, where $\mathscr{K}$ is the number of states and T is the number of time steps of propagation. As a result, we further simulated the 2DES for an HTC Hamiltonian under the collective coupling regime and analyzed the signal from both rephasing and non-rephasing contributions of the ground state bleaching, excited state emission, and stimulated emission pathways.

2D non-linear spectra↗

Topological phase diagram of generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger models with interactions

We investigate interacting Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chains with two- and three-site unit cells using density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) simulations. By selecting appropriate filling fractions and sweeping across interaction strength 𝐽 𝑧 and dimerization 𝛿, we map out their phase diagrams and identify transition lines via entanglement entropy and magnetization measurements. In the two-site model, we observe the emergence of an interaction-induced antiferromagnetic intermediate phase between the topologically trivial and nontrivial regimes, as well as a critical region at negative 𝐽 𝑧 with suppressed magnetization and finite-size scaling of entanglement entropy. In contrast, the three-site model lacks an intermediate phase and exhibits asymmetric edge localization and antiferromagnetic ordering in both positive and negative 𝐽 𝑧 regimes. We further examine the response of edge states to Ising perturbations. In the two-site model, zero-energy edge modes are topologically protected and remain robust up to a finite interaction strength. However, in the three-site model, where the edge states reside at finite energy, this protection breaks down. Despite this, the edge-localized nature of these states survives in the form of polarized modes whose spatial profiles reflect the noninteracting limit.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Adiabatic quantum decoherence in many non-interacting subsystems induced by the coupling with a common boson bath

Highlights: • System–environment quantum correlation: a main solid state NMR decoherence channel. • Non-separable system–environment model yields realistic spin decoherence rates. • New open quantum system approach explains irreversible decay of refocused NMR echoes. • Adiabatic quantum decoherence is inherently irreversible and eigen-selective. This work addresses adiabatic quantum decoherence of many-body spin systems coupled with a boson field in the framework of open quantum systems theory. We generalize the traditional spin-boson model by considering a system–environment interaction Hamiltonian that represents a partition of non-interacting subsystems and highlights the collective correlation that appears exclusively due to the coupling with a common environment. Remarkably, this simple, exactly solvable model encompasses relevant aspects of a many-body open quantum system and features the subtle quantum effects that arise when the size scales up to a macroscopic level. We derive an analytical expression for the time dependence of the density matrix elements (in the preferred basis) without assuming coarse-graining. The resulting decoherence function is eigen-selective and is a complex exponential whose exponent has a real part that introduces a decay similar to that in the spin-boson model. On the contrary, the imaginary part depends on the quantum numbers and geometry of the whole partition and does not reflect the system temperature. Motivated by decoherence in solid-state NMR, and in search of realistic numerical estimations, we apply the theoretical results to a partition of dipole-coupled spin pairs in contact with a common phonon bath, using typical parameters of hydrated salts. The proposal allows estimating the decoherence time scale in terms of the system physical constants: sound velocity and eigenvalue distribution width. As a significant novelty, the decoherence function phase depends on the eigenvalue distribution throughout the sample. It plays the leading role, overshadowing the mechanism associated with the bath thermal state. Finally, we apply the formalism to describe decoherence in the “magic echo” NMR reversal experiment. We find that the system–environment correlation explains the origin of irreversibility, and both the decoherence rate value and its dependence on the dipolar frequency, are remarkably similar to the experiment.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Superconductivity in a topological lattice model with strong repulsion

The highly tunable nature of synthetic quantum materials-both in the solid-state and cold atom contexts-invites examining which microscopic ingredients aid in the realization of correlated phases of matter such as superconductors. Recent experimental advances in moiré materials suggest that unifying the features of the Fermi-Hubbard model and quantum Hall systems creates a fertile ground for the emergence of such phases. Here, we introduce the "double Hofstadter"model, a minimal 2D lattice model that incorporates exactly these features: Time-reversal symmetry, band topology, and strong repulsive interactions. By using infinite cylinder density matrix renormalization group methods (cylinder iDMRG), we investigate the ground state phase diagram of this model. We find that it hosts an interaction-induced quantum spin Hall insulator and demonstrate that weakly hole-doping this state gives rise to a superconductor at a finite circumference, with indications that this behavior persists on larger cylinders. Further, at the aforementioned circumference, the superconducting phase is surprisingly robust to perturbations including additional repulsive interactions in the pairing channel. By developing a technique to probe the superconducting gap function in iDMRG, we phenomenologically characterize the superconductor. Namely, we demonstrate that it is formed from the weak pairing of holes atop the quantum spin Hall insulator. Furthermore, we determine the pairing symmetry of the superconductor, finding it to be p-wave-reminiscent of the unconventional superconductivity reported in experiments on twisted bilayer graphene (TBG). Motivated by this, we elucidate structural similarities and differences between our model and those of TBG in its chiral limit. Finally, to provide a more direct experimental realization, we detail an implementation of our Hamiltonian in a system of cold fermionic alkaline-earth atoms in an optical lattice.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Mixed quantum–classical approach to model non-adiabatic electron–nuclear dynamics: Detailed balance and improved surface hopping method

We develop a density matrix formalism to describe coupled electron–nuclear dynamics. To this end, we introduce an effective Hamiltonian formalism that describes electronic transitions and small (quantum) nuclear fluctuations along a classical trajectory of the nuclei. Using this Hamiltonian, we derive equations of motion for the electronic occupation numbers and for the nuclear coordinates and momenta. We show that, in the limit, when the number of nuclear degrees of freedom coupled to a given electronic transition is sufficiently high (i.e., the strong decoherence limit), the equations of motion for the electronic occupation numbers become Markovian. Furthermore, the transition rates in these (rate) equations are asymmetric with respect to the lower-to-higher energy transitions and vice versa. In thermal equilibrium, such asymmetry corresponds to the detailed balance condition. We also study the equations for the electronic occupations in the non-Markovian regime and develop a surface hopping algorithm based on our formalism. To treat the decoherence effects, we introduce additional “virtual” nuclear wave packets whose interference with the “real” (physical) wave packets leads to the reduction in coupling between the electronic states (i.e., decoherence) as well as to the phase shifts that improve the accuracy of the numerical approach. Remarkably, the same phase shifts lead to the detailed balance condition in the strong decoherence limit.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

The response field and the saddle points of quantum mechanical path integrals

Highlights: • Moyal quantum mechanics and Marinov’s path integral. • Classical and semiclassical limits of Marinov’s path integral. • Oscillating functional integrals. • Instantons of the Marinov’s path integral. In quantum statistical mechanics, Moyal’s equation governs the time evolution of Wigner functions and of more general Weyl symbols that represent the density matrix of arbitrary mixed states. A formal solution to Moyal’s equation is given by Marinov’s path integral. In this paper we demonstrate that this path integral can be regarded as the natural link between several conceptual, geometric, and dynamical issues in quantum mechanics. A unifying perspective is achieved by highlighting the pivotal role which the response field, one of the integration variables in Marinov’s integral, plays for pure states even. The discussion focuses on how the integral’s semiclassical approximation relates to its strictly classical limit; unlike for Feynman type path integrals, the latter is well defined in the Marinov case. The topics covered include a random force representation of Marinov’s integral based upon the concept of “Airy averaging”, a related discussion of positivity-violating Wigner functions describing tunneling processes, and the role of the response field in maintaining quantum coherence and enabling interference phenomena. The double slit experiment for electrons and the Bohm–Aharonov effect are analyzed as illustrative examples. Furthermore, a surprising relationship between the instantons of the Marinov path integral over an analytically continued (“Wick rotated”) response field, and the complex instantons of Feynman-type integrals is found. The latter play a prominent role in recent work towards a Picard–Lefschetz theory applicable to oscillatory path integrals and the resurgence program.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗