Seminars and Colloquia by Series

Lower bounds in quantum dynamics via discrepancy estimates

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Friday, November 1, 2024 - 11:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Clough 280
Speaker
Matthew PowellGeorgia Tech

We will discuss the quantum dynamics associated with ergodic Schroedinger operators. Anderson localization (pure point spectrum with exponentially decaying eigenfunctions) has been obtained for a variety of ergodic operator families, but it is well known that Anderson localization is highly unstable and can also be destroyed by generic rank one perturbations. For quasiperiodic operators, it also sensitively depends on the arithmetic properties of the phase (a seemingly irrelevant parameter from the point of view of the physics of the problem) and doesn’t hold generically. These instabilities are also present for the physically relevant notion of dynamical localization. In this talk, we will discuss the notion of discrepancy and present current and ongoing work establishing novel upper bounds of the discrepancy for skew-shift sequences. As an application of our bounds, we improve the quantum dynamical bounds in Liu [2023] and Jitomirskaya-Powell [2022].

An interesting variational problem related to the Cwikel-Lieb-Rozenblum inequality and its solution

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Friday, October 18, 2024 - 11:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Clough 280
Speaker
Tobias ReidGeorgia Tech

The Cwikel-Lieb-Rozenblum (CLR) inequality is a semi-classical estimate on the number of bound states for Schrödinger operators. In this talk I will give a brief overview of the CLR inequality and present a substantial refinement of Cwikel’s original approach which leads to an astonishingly good bound for the constant in the CLR inequality. Our new proof highlights a natural but overlooked connection of the CLR inequality with bounds for maximal Fourier multipliers from harmonic analysis and leads to a variational problem that can be reformulated in terms of a variant of Hadamard’s three-lines lemma. The solution of this variational problem relies on some interesting complex analysis techniques. (Based on joint work with T. Carvalho-Corso, D. Hundertmark, P. Kunstmann, S. Vugalter)

The intertwined derivative Schrödinger system of Calogero--Moser--Sutherland type

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - 13:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skiles 006
Speaker
Ruoci SunSchool of Mathematics, Georgia Tech

Please Note: Available via zoom at: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/98258240051

This presentation is dedicated to extending both defocusing and focusing Calogero–Moser–Sutherland derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equations (CMSdNLS), which are introduced in Abanov–Bettelheim–Wiegmann [arXiv:0810.5327], Gérard-Lenzmann [arXiv:2208.04105] and R. Badreddine [arXiv:2303.01087, arXiv:2307.01592], to a system of two matrix-valued variables. This new system is an integrable extension and perturbation of the original CMSdNLS equations. Thanks to the conjugation acting method, I can establish the explicit expression for general solutions on the torus and on the real line in my work [hal-04227081].

Advancements in Persistence Solutions for Functional Perturbed Uniformly Hyperbolic Trajectories: Insights into Relativistic Charged Particle Motion

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 - 13:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skyles 006
Speaker
Joan GimenoUniversitat de Barcelona

Please Note: Available online at: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/98258240051

We develop a method to construct solutions of some (retarded or advanced) equations. A prime example could be the motion of point charges interacting via the fully relativistic Lienard-Wiechert potentials (as suggested by J.A. Wheeler and R.P. Feynman in the 1940's). These are retarded equations, but the delay depends implicitly on the trajectory. We assume that the equations considered are formally close to an ODE and that the ODE admits hyperbolic solutions (that is, perturbations transversal to trajectory grow exponentially either in the past or in the future) and we show that there are solutions of the functional equation close to the hyperbolic solutions of the ODE. The method of proof does not require to formulate the delayed problem as an evolution for a class of initial data. The main result is formulated in an "a-posteriori" format and allows to show that solutions obtained by non-rigorous approximations are close (in some precise sense) to true solutions. In the electrodynamics (or gravitational) case, this allows to compare the hyperbolic solutions of several post-newtonian approximations or numerical approximations with the solutions of the Lienard-Weichert interaction. This is a joint work with R. de la Llave and J. Yang.

Convergence times for random walks on the unitary group

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - 13:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skiles 006
Speaker
Shivan MittalDepartment of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin

Please Note: Available online at: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/98258240051

Consider the following question of interest to cryptographers: A message is encoded in a binary string of length n. Consider a set of scrambling operations S (a proper subset of permutations on n bits). If a scrambling operation is applied uniformly at random from S at each step, then after how many steps will the composition of scrambling operations look like a random permutation on all the bits? This question asks for the convergence time for a random walk on the permutation group. Replace the binary string with a quantum state and scrambling operations in S with Haar random quantum channels on two bits (qudits) at a time. Broadly speaking, we study the following question: If a scrambling operation is applied uniformly at random from S at each step, then after how many steps will the composition of scrambling operations (quantum channels) look like a Haar random channel on all qudits? This question asks about the convergence time for a random walk on the unitary group. Various protocols in quantum computing require Haar random channels, which motivates us to understand the number of operations one would require to approximately implement that channel.

More specifically, in our study, we add a connected-graph structure to scrambling operations (a step on the random walk), where qudits are identified by vertices and the allowed 2-qudit scrambling operations are represented by edges. We develop new methods for lower bounds on spectral gaps of a class of Hamiltonians and use those to derive bounds on the convergence times of the aforementioned random walk on the unitary group with the imposed graph structure. We identify a large family of graphs for which O(poly(n)) steps suffice and show that for an arbitrary connected graph O(n^(O(log(n))) steps suffice. Further we refute the conjectured O(n log(n)) steps for a family of graphs.

Logarithmic upper bounds in quantum transport for quasi-periodic Schroedinger operators.

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - 13:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skiles 006
Speaker
Matthew PowellSchool of Mathematics, Georgia Tech

Please Note: Available on zoom at: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/98258240051

We shall discuss the quantum dynamics associated with ergodic Schroedinger operators. Anderson localization (pure point spectrum with exponentially decaying eigenfunctions) has been obtained for a variety of ergodic operator families, but it is well known that Anderson localization is highly unstable and can also be destroyed by generic rank one perturbations. For quasiperiodic operators, it also sensitively depends on the arithmetic properties of the phase (a seemingly irrelevant parameter from the point of view of the physics of the problem) and doesn’t hold generically. These instabilities are also present for the physically relevant notion of dynamical localization.

In this talk we will introduce the notion of the transport exponent, explain its stability, and explain how logarithmic upper bounds may be obtained in the quasi-periodic setting for all relevant parameters. This is based on joint work with S. Jitomirskaya.

Conformal mappings and integrability of surface dynamics

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Thursday, November 2, 2023 - 16:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skiles 005 and online at https://gatech.zoom.us/j/99225468139
Speaker
Pavel LushnikovDepartment of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico

A fully nonlinear surface dynamics of the time dependent potential flow of ideal incompressible fluid with a free surface is considered in two dimensional geometry. Arbitrary large surface waves can be efficiently characterized through a time-dependent conformal mapping of a fluid domain into the lower complex half-plane. We reformulate the exact Eulerian dynamics through a non-canonical nonlocal Hamiltonian system for the pair of new conformal variables. We also consider a generalized hydrodynamics for two components of superfluid Helium which has the same non-canonical Hamiltonian structure. In both cases the fluid dynamics is fully characterized by the complex singularities in the upper complex half-plane of the conformal map and the complex velocity. Analytical continuation through the branch cuts generically results in the Riemann surface with infinite number of sheets including Stokes wave, An infinite family of solutions with moving poles are found on the Riemann surface. Residues of poles are the constants of motion. These constants commute with each other in the sense of underlying non-canonical Hamiltonian dynamics which provides an argument in support of the conjecture of complete Hamiltonian integrability of surface dynamics. If we consider initial conditions with short branch cuts then fluid dynamics is reduced to the complex Hopf equation for the complex velocity coupled with the complex transport equation for the conformal mapping. These equations are fully integrable by characteristics producing the infinite family of solutions, including the pairs of moving square root branch points. The solutions are compared with the simulations of the full Eulerian dynamics giving excellent agreement.

An approach to universality using canonical systems

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Thursday, April 27, 2023 - 13:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skiles 005
Speaker
Milivoje LukicRice University

 It is often expected that the local statistical behavior of eigenvalues of some system depends only on its local properties; for instance, the local distribution of zeros of orthogonal polynomials should depend only on the local properties of the measure of orthogonality. This phenomenon is studied using an object called the Christoffel-Darboux kernel. The most commonly studied case is known as bulk universality, where the rescaled limit of Christoffel-Darboux kernels converges to the sine kernel. We will present a new approach which gives for the first time a completely local sufficient condition for bulk universality. This approach is based on a matrix version of the Christoffel-Darboux kernel and the de Branges theory of canonical systems, and it applies to other self-adjoint systems with 2x2 transfer matrices such as continuum Schrodinger and Dirac operators. The talk is based on joint work with Benjamin Eichinger (Technical University Wien) and Brian Simanek (Baylor University).

On the domain of convergence of spherical harmonic expansions

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Thursday, April 27, 2023 - 12:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skiles 005 and online at https://gatech.zoom.us/j/94065877775
Speaker
Ovidiu CostinOhio State University
We settle a 60 year old question in mathematical physics, namely finding the exact domain of convergence of the spherical harmonic expansions (SHE, expansions at infinity in Legendre polynomials) of the gravitational potential of a planet. These expansions are the main tool in processing satellite data to find information about planet Earth in locations that are inaccessible, as well as the subsurface mass distribution and other quantities, with innumerable practical applications.
Despite many decades of investigation it was not known whether SHE converge all the way to the topography or only in the complement of the so called Brillouin sphere, the smallest sphere enclosing our planet. We show that regardless of the smoothness of the density and topography, short of outright analyticity, the spherical harmonic expansion of the gravitational potential converges exactly in the closure of the exterior of the Brillouin sphere, and convergence below the Brillouin sphere occurs with probability zero. We go further by finding a necessary and sufficient condition for convergence below the Brillouin sphere, which requires a form of analyticity at the highest peak on the planet, which would not hold for any realistic celestial body. Due to power-law corrections to the geometric growth of the coefficients, that we calculate for the first time in this paper, there is some amount of compensation of this divergence. However, with the increased accuracy of modern measurements divergence is bound to result in unacceptably large errors. The SHE can be made convergent though, and used optimally.
These questions turn out to be very delicate and challenging asymptotic analysis ones, which we solve using asymptotic techniques combined with elements of microlocal analysis and resurgence.
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Work in collaboration with R.D. Costin, C. Ogle and M. Bevis

Prethermalization and conservation laws in quasi-periodically driven quantum systems

Series
Math Physics Seminar
Time
Thursday, April 20, 2023 - 12:00 for 1 hour (actually 50 minutes)
Location
Skiles 005 and online https://gatech.zoom.us/j/96817326631
Speaker
Matteo Gallone and Beatrice LangellaSISSA Trieste, Italy

Understanding the route to thermalization of a physical system is a fundamental problem in statistical mechanics. When a system is initialized far from thermodynamical equilibrium, many interesting phenomena may arise. Among them, a lot of interest is attained by systems subjected to periodic driving (Floquet systems), which under certain circumstances can undergo a two-stage long dynamics referred to as "prethermalization", showing nontrivial physical features. In this talk, we present some prethermalization results for a class of lattice systems with quasi-periodic external driving in time. When the quasi-periodic driving frequency is large enough or the strength of the driving is small enough, we show that the system exhibits a prethermal state for exponentially long times in the perturbative parameter. Moreover, we focus on the case when the unperturbed Hamiltonian admits constants of motion and we prove the quasi-conservation of a dressed version of them. We discuss applications to perturbations of the Fermi-Hubbard model and the quantum Ising chain.

 

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https://gatech.zoom.us/j/96817326631

 

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