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Holes in Si quantum dots are being investigated for the implementation of electrically addressable spin qubits. In this perspective, the attention has been focused on the electric-field induced transitions between the eigenstates belonging to the ground doublet. Here we theoretically extend the analysis to the first excited doublet. We show that - in a prototypical quantum dot structure - transitions involving the lowest excited states display Rabi frequencies that are several orders of magnitude larger than those occurring in the ground doublet. A clear relation with the symmetries of the eigenstates emerges, and a wide tunability of the Rabi frequencies by means of the applied bias. Possible implications for multilevel manipulation schemes and for multi-hole qubit encodings can be envisioned.

The recent observation of the $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu\bar\nu$ decay by NA62 is an important milestone in precision flavor physics. Together with evidence of $B^+ \to K^+\nu\bar\nu$ reported by Belle-II, they are the only FCNC decays involving third-family leptons where a precision close to the SM expectation has been reached. We study the implications of these recent results in the context of a new physics scenario aligned to the third generation, with an approximate $U(2)^5$ flavor symmetry acting on the light families. We find that the slight excess observed in both channels supports the hypothesis of non-standard TeV dynamics of this type, as also hinted at by other $B$-meson decays, consistently with bounds from colliders and electroweak observables. We further discuss how future improvements in precision could affect this picture, highlighting the discovery potential in these di-neutrino modes., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures

Routing classical and quantum information is a fundamental task for most quantum information technologies and processes. Here, we consider information encoded in the position of a quantum walker on a graph, and design an optimal structure to achieve perfect quantum routing exploiting chirality and weighting of the edges. The topology, termed the {\em Lily Graph}, enables perfect (i.e., with fidelity one) and robust routing of classical (localized) or quantum (superposition) states of the walker to $n$ different, orthogonal, spatial regions of the graph, corresponding to the $n$ possible outputs of the device. The routing time is independent of the input signal and the number of outputs, making our scheme a robust and scalable solution for quantum networks., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We present an analysis of the exclusive semileptonic decay $B\to D^\ast \ell\bar\nu_\ell$ based on the Belle and Belle II data made public in 2023, combined with recent lattice-QCD calculations of the hadronic transition form factors by FNAL/MILC, HPQCD and JLQCD. We also consider a new combination of the Belle and Belle II data sets by HFLAV. The analysis is based on the form-factor parameterisation by Boyd-Grinstein-Lebed (BGL), using Bayesian and frequentist statistics, for which we discuss novel strategies. We compare the results of an analysis where the BGL parameterisation is fit only to the lattice data with those from a simultaneous fit to lattice and experiment, and discuss the resulting predictions for the CKM-matrix element $V_{cb}$, as well as other phenomenological observables, such as $R^{\tau/\mu}(D^\ast)$. We find tensions when comparing analyses based on different combinations of experimental or theoretical input, requiring the introduction of a systematic error for some of our results., Comment: 35 pages, 8 figures, 9 tables

We examine metrological scenarios where the parameter of interest is encoded onto a quantum state through the action of a noisy quantum gate and investigate the ultimate bound to precision by analyzing the behaviour of the Quantum Fisher Information (QFI). We focus on qubit gates and consider the possibility of employing successive applications of the gate. We go beyond the trivial case of unitary gates and characterize the robustness of the metrological procedure introducing noise in the performed quantum operation, looking at how this affects the QFI at different steps (gate applications). We model the dephasing and tilting noise affecting qubit rotations as classical fluctuations governed by a Von Mises-Fisher distribution. Compared to the noiseless case, in which the QFI grows quadratically with the number of steps, we observe a non monotonic behavior, and the appearance of a maximum in the QFI, which defines the ideal number of steps that should be performed in order to precisely characterize the action of the gate., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures

We address quantum metrology in critical spin chains with anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction, and show how local and quasi-local measurements may be exploited to characterize global properties of the systems. In particular, we evaluate the classical (magnetization) and quantum Fisher information of the relevant parameters for the density matrix of a single spin and that of a pair of spins ranging from nearest to sixth-nearest neighbors, to the limiting case of very distant spins. Our results allow us to elucidate the role of the different parameters and to individuate the optimal working regimes for the precise characterization of the system, also clarifying the effects of correlations on the estimation precision., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures

Discrete-time quantum walk (DTQW) represents a convenient mathematical framework for describing the motion of a particle on a discrete set of positions when this motion is conditioned by the values of certain internal degrees of freedom, which are usually referred to as the {\em coin} of the particle. As such, and owing to the inherent dependence of the position distribution on the coin degrees of freedom, DTQWs naturally emerge as promising candidates for quantum metrology. In this paper, we explore the use of DTQWs as quantum probes in scenarios where the parameter of interest is encoded in the internal degree of freedom of the walker, and investigate the role of the topology of the walker's space on the attainable precision. In particular, we start considering the encoding of the parameter by rotations for a walker on the line, and evaluate the quantum Fisher information (QFI) and the position Fisher information (FI), explicitly determining the optimal initial state in position space that maximizes the QFI across all encoding schemes. This allows us to understand the role of interference in the position space and to introduce an optimal topology, which maximizes the QFI of the coin parameter and makes the position FI equal to the QFI., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures

We analyze data on $B\to K\mu^+\mu^-$ and $B\to K^*\mu^+\mu^-$ decays in the whole dilepton invariant mass spectrum with the aim of disentangling short- vs. long-distance contributions. The sizable long-distance amplitudes from $c \bar{c}$ narrow resonances are taken into account by employing a dispersive approach. For each available $q^2=m_{\mu\mu}^2$ bin and each helicity amplitude an independent determination of the Wilson coefficient $C_9$, describing $b\to s\ell^+\ell^-$ transitions at short distances, is obtained. The consistency of the $C_9$ values thus obtained provides an a posteriori check of the absence of additional, sizable, long-distance contributions. The systematic difference of these values from the Standard Model expectation supports the hypothesis of a non-standard $b\to s \mu^+\mu^-$ amplitude of short-distance origin., Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, v2: accepted on EPJC

Multi-image super-resolution (MISR) allows to increase the spatial resolution of a low-resolution (LR) acquisition by combining multiple images carrying complementary information in the form of sub-pixel offsets in the scene sampling, and can be significantly more effective than its single-image counterpart. Its main difficulty lies in accurately registering and fusing the multi-image information. Currently studied settings, such as burst photography, typically involve assumptions of small geometric disparity between the LR images and rely on optical flow for image registration. We study a MISR method that can increase the resolution of sets of images acquired with arbitrary, and potentially wildly different, camera positions and orientations, generalizing the currently studied MISR settings. Our proposed model, called EpiMISR, moves away from optical flow and explicitly uses the epipolar geometry of the acquisition process, together with transformer-based processing of radiance feature fields to substantially improve over state-of-the-art MISR methods in presence of large disparities in the LR images.

We address quantum characterization of anisotropic spin chains in the presence of antisymmetric exchange, and investigate whether the Hamiltonian parameters of the chain may be estimated with precision approaching the ultimate limit imposed by quantum mechanics. At variance with previous approaches, we focus on the information that may be extracted by measuring only two neighbouring spins rather than a global observable on the entire chain. We evaluate the Fisher information (FI) of a two-spin magnetization measure, and the corresponding quantum Fisher information (QFI), for all the relevant parameters, i.e. the spin coupling, the anisotropy, and the Dzyaloshinskii Moriya (DM) parameter. Our results show that the reduced system made of two neighbouring spins may be indeed exploited as a probe to characterize global properties of the entire system. In particular, we find that the ratio between the FI and the QFI is close to unit for a large range of the coupling values. The DM coupling is beneficial for coupling estimation, since it leads to the presence of additional bumps and peaks in the FI and QFI, which are not present in a model that neglects exchange interaction and may be exploited to increase the robustness of the overall estimation procedure. Finally, we address the multiparameter estimation problem, and show that the model is compatible but sloppy, i.e. both the Uhlmann curvature and the determinant of the QFI matrix vanish. Physically, this means that the state of the system actually depends only on a reduced numbers of combinations of parameters, and not on all of them separately., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures

Kaon physics is at a turning point -- while the rare-kaon experiments NA62 and KOTO are in full swing, the end of their lifetime is approaching and the future experimental landscape needs to be defined. With HIKE, KOTO-II and LHCb-Phase-II on the table and under scrutiny, it is a very good moment in time to take stock and contemplate about the opportunities these experiments and theoretical developments provide for particle physics in the coming decade and beyond. This paper provides a compact summary of talks and discussions from the Kaons@CERN 2023 workshop., Comment: 55 pages, Summary of Kaons@CERN 23 workshop, references updated, typos fixed, version as published in EPJC

We address metrological problems where the parameter of interest is encoded in the internal degree of freedom of a discrete-time quantum walker, and provide evidence that coin dimensionality is a potential resource to enhance precision. In particular, we consider estimation problems where the coin parameter governs rotations around a given axis and show that the corresponding quantum Fisher information (QFI) may increase with the dimension of the coin. We determine the optimal initial state of the walker to maximize the QFI and discuss whether, and to which extent, precision enhancement may be achieved by measuring only the position of the walker. Finally, we consider Grover-like encoding of the parameter and compare results with those obtained from rotation encoding., Comment: revised version, 14 pages, 5 figures

We analyse in detail the QED corrections to the total decay width and the moments of the electron energy spectrum of the inclusive semi-leptonic $B \to X_c e \nu$ decay. Our calculation includes short-distance electroweak corrections, the complete ${\cal O}(\alpha)$ partonic terms and leading-logarithmic QED effects up to ${\cal O}(\Lambda^3_{\rm QCD}/m_b^3)$. A comprehensive numerical comparison of our results against those obtained with the Monte Carlo (MC) tool PHOTOS is presented. While the comparison indicates good overall agreement, our computation contains QED effects not included in PHOTOS and should therefore better describe photon radiation to $B \to X_c e \nu$ as measured by the $B$-factories. Our calculations represent the first steps in the construction of a fully differential higher-order QED MC generator for inclusive semi-leptonic $B$ decays., Comment: 40 pages, 8 figures and 3 tables; v3: mistake in the calculation of threshold corrections in the total decay width corrected. We thank Gael Finauri for identifying the incorrect overall factor in (3.3) in the original version of our work. Numerical results unchanged

Several new physics scenarios that address anomalies in $B$-physics predict an enhancement of $b \rightarrow s \tau \tau$ with respect to its Standard Model prediction. Such scenarios necessarily imply modifications of the lifetime ratio $\tau_{B_{s}}/\tau_{B_{d}}$ and the lifetime difference $\Delta\Gamma_{s}$. In this work, we explore indirect bounds provided by these observables over new physics scenarios. We also estimate future projections, showing that future experimental and theoretical improvements on both $\tau_{B_{s}}/\tau_{B_{d}}$ and $\Delta\Gamma_{s}$ have the potential to provide bounds competitive with those directly extracted from $b\rightarrow s \tau \tau$ transitions. After performing a model-independent analysis, we apply our results to the particular case of leptoquark mediators proposed to address the $R_{D^{(*)}}$ anomalies., Comment: 12 pages + Appendix, 4 Figures. v2: Minor discussions added, typos corrected, conclusions unchanged. Version accepted in EPJC

Hole-spin qubits in semiconductors represent a mature platform for quantum technological applications. Here we consider their use as quantum sensors, and specifically for inferring the presence and estimating the distance from the qubit of a remote charge. Different approaches are considered - based on the use of single or double quantum dots, ground and out-of-equilibrium states, Rabi and Ramsey measurements - and comparatively analyzed by means of the discrimination probability, and of the classical and quantum Fisher information. Detailed quantitative aspects result from the multiband character of the hole states, which we account for by means of the Luttinger-Kohn Hamiltonian. Furthermore, general conclusions can be drawn on the relative efficiency of the above options, and analytical expressions are derived for the Fisher information of a generic qubit within the Rabi and Ramsey schemes., Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures

We derive new sum rules for the form factors of the $B_c\to J/\psi\, \ell \bar{\nu}_\ell$ semileptonic transitions, employing the vacuum-to-$B_c$ correlation function of the $J/\psi$-interpolating and $b\to c$ weak currents. In the heavy quark limit and at a space-like momentum transfer to the weak current, a local operator-product expansion is valid for this correlation function. As a result, in the leading power, the non-perturbative input is reduced to the decay constant of $B_c$ meson. Furthermore, applying hadronic dispersion relation in the $J/\psi$ channel, we find that a non-vanishing OPE spectral density in the duality interval of $J/\psi$ emerges only at $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s)$. We calculate this density in the relevant kinematic regime. The $B_c\to J/\psi$ form factors at space-like momentum transfer are then calculated from the new sum rules., Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures. v2: version accepted in JHEP

We perform an analysis of $\Lambda_b\to\Lambda(1520)$ local form factors. We use dispersive techniques to provide a model-independent parametrisation of the form factors that can be used in the whole kinematic region. We use lattice QCD data to constrain the free parameters in the form factors expansion, which is further constrained by endpoint relations, dispersive bounds, and SCET relations. We analyse different scenarios, where we expand the form factors up to different orders, and their viability. Finally, we use our results to obtain predictions for some observables in $\Lambda_b\to\Lambda(1520)\ell^+\ell^-$ decays, as the differential branching ratio, the forward-backwards lepton asymmetry and the branching ratio of $\Lambda_b\to\Lambda(1520)\gamma$. Finally, we provide a python notebook based on the software EOS to reproduce our result., Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, 1 ancillary file, v2: correction of typos, v3: version accepted in JHEP

Graphene nanoribbons provide an ideal platform for electronic interferometry in the Integer Quantum Hall regime. Here, we solve the time-dependent four-component Schroedinger equation for single carriers in graphene and expose several dynamical effects of the carrier localization on their transport characteristics in pn junctions. We simulate two kinds of Mach-Zender Interferometers (MZI). The first is based on Quantum Point Contacts and is similar to traditional GaAs/AlGaAs interferometers. As expected, we observe Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and phase averaging. The second is based on Valley Beam Splitters, where we observe unexpected phenomena due to the intersection of the Edge Channels that constitute the MZI. Our results provide further insights into the behavior of graphene interferometers. Additionally, they highlight the operative regime of such nanodevices for feasible single-particle implementations., Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures

Automated decision-making systems, especially those based on natural language processing, are pervasive in our lives. They are not only behind the internet search engines we use daily, but also take more critical roles: selecting candidates for a job, determining suspects of a crime, diagnosing autism and more. Such automated systems make errors, which may be harmful in many ways, be it because of the severity of the consequences (as in health issues) or because of the sheer number of people they affect. When errors made by an automated system affect a population more than others, we call the system \textit{biased}. Most modern natural language technologies are based on artifacts obtained from enormous volumes of text using machine learning, namely language models and word embeddings. Since they are created by applying subsymbolic machine learning, mostly artificial neural networks, they are opaque and practically uninterpretable by direct inspection, thus making it very difficult to audit them. In this paper, we present a methodology that spells out how social scientists, domain experts, and machine learning experts can collaboratively explore biases and harmful stereotypes in word embeddings and large language models. Our methodology is based on the following principles: * focus on the linguistic manifestations of discrimination on word embeddings and language models, not on the mathematical properties of the models * reduce the technical barrier for discrimination experts%, be it social scientists, domain experts or other * characterize through a qualitative exploratory process in addition to a metric-based approach * address mitigation as part of the training process, not as an afterthought

Coherent transport of an excitation through a network corresponds to continuous-time quantum walk on a graph, and the transport properties of the system may be radically different depending on the graph and on the initial state. The transport efficiency, i.e., the integrated probability of trapping at a certain vertex, is a measure of the success rate of the transfer process. Purely coherent quantum transport is known to be less efficient than the observed excitation transport, e.g., in biological systems, and there is evidence that environmental noise is indeed crucial for excitation transport. At variance with this picture, we here address purely coherent transport on highly symmetric graphs, and show analytically that it is possible to enhance the transport efficiency without environmental noise, i.e., using only a minimal perturbation of the graph. In particular, we show that adding an extra weight to one or two edges, depending on whether the initial state is localized or in a superposition of two vertex states, breaks the inherent symmetries of the graph and may be sufficient to achieve unit transport efficiency. We also briefly discuss the conditions to obtain a null transport efficiency, i.e., to avoid trapping., Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, accepted version

We present estimates of the semileptonic widths of the $B_s$ and $\Lambda_b$ hadrons. We employ the latest fit to the $B$ inclusive semileptonic data, the heavy quark expansion and lattice QCD results. Our results suffer from large uncertainties that could be reduced with dedicated measurements and new lattice QCD calculations., Comment: Contribution to the 11th International Workshop on the CKM Unitarity Triangle (CKM2021)

A fully connected vertex $w$ in a simple graph $G$ of order $N$ is a vertex connected to all the other $N-1$ vertices. Upon denoting by $L$ the Laplacian matrix of the graph, we prove that the continuous-time quantum walk (CTQW) -- with Hamiltonian $H=\gamma L$ -- of a walker initially localized at $\vert w \rangle$ does not depend on the graph $G$. We also prove that for any Grover-like CTQW -- with Hamiltonian $H=\gamma L +\sum_w \lambda_w \vert w \rangle\langle w \vert$ -- the probability amplitude at the fully connected marked vertices $w$ does not depend on $G$. The result does not hold for CTQW with Hamiltonian $H=\gamma A$ (adjacency matrix). We apply our results to spatial search and quantum transport for single and multiple fully connected marked vertices, proving that CTQWs on any graph $G$ inherit the properties already known for the complete graph of the same order, including the optimality of the spatial search. Our results provide a unified framework for several partial results already reported in literature for fully connected vertices, such as the equivalence of CTQW and of spatial search for the central vertex of the star and wheel graph, and any vertex of the complete graph., Comment: 22 pages, 2 figures, accepted version