Quantum/Gravity Seminar Series
Unless otherwise noted, seminars take place at 11:10 am on Tuesdays in Abelson 333.
Spring 2023 Seminars
January 17, 2023
January 24, 2023
Title: Quantum dimer models in the age of Rydberg quantum simulators
Abstract: Strongly interacting arrays of Rydberg atoms provide versatile platforms for exploring exotic many-body phases and dynamics of correlated quantum systems. Motivated by recent experimental advances, we investigate the quantum phases that can be realized by such Rydberg atom simulators in two dimensions. We show that the combination of Rydberg interactions and appropriate lattice geometries naturally leads to constrained dimer models and emergent Z2 gauge theories endowed with matter fields. Based on this mapping, we demonstrate how Rydberg platforms can be used to realize topological spin liquid states based solely on their native van der Waals interactions. We also discuss the nature of the fractionalized excitations of two distinct classes of such Z2 quantum spin liquid states and illustrate their rich interplay with proximate solid phases.
*Note: This week the seminar will be held in Abelson 229
January 31, 2023
Title: Maximal Entangling Rates from Holography
Abstract: We prove novel speed limits on the growth of entanglement, equal time correlators, and spacelike Wilson loops in spatially uniform time-evolving states in strongly coupled CFTs with holographic duals. These bounds can also be viewed as quantum weak energy conditions. Several of the speed limits are valid for regions of arbitrary size and with multiple connected components, and our findings imply new bounds on the effective entanglement velocity of small subregions. In 2d CFT, our results prove a conjecture by Liu and Suh for a large class of states. Key to our findings is a momentum-entanglement correspondence, showing that entanglement growth is computed by the momentum crossing the HRT surface. In our setup, we prove a number of general features of boundary-anchored extremal surfaces, such as a sharp bound on the smallest radius that a surface can probe, and that the tips of extremal surfaces cannot lie in trapped regions. Our methods rely on novel global GR techniques, including a delicate interplay between Lorentzian and Riemannian Hawking masses. While our proofs assume the dominant energy condition in the bulk, we provide numerical evidence that our bounds are true under less restrictive assumptions.
*Note: This week the seminar will be held in Abelson 229
February 7, 2023
February 14, 2023
February 21, 2023
February 28, 2023
March 7, 2023
March 14, 2023
March 21, 2023
March 28, 2023
April 4, 2023
April 11, 2023
April 18, 2023
April 25, 2023
May 2, 2023