Luisa Eck

Postdoctoral Fellow
Caltech

I am a Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in Theoretical Physics at Caltech. I recently finished my DPhil in condensed matter theory at the University of Oxford, supervised by Paul Fendley, and spent five months as a Graduate Fellow at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP). My research focuses on categorical symmetries and dualities in quantum lattice models, with connections to topological phases, integrability and conformal field theory.

Prior to my doctoral studies, I completed my undergraduate studies in Physics at LMU Munich, followed by the Part III Master in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge. Throughout my undergraduate studies I was supported by the Maximilianeum Foundation and the Max Weber Programme. For my stay in Cambridge, I received a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Research

  • Dualities between 2+1d fusion surface models from braided fusion categories
    Luisa Eck
    We extend the fusion surface model construction so that the input is a pair (M,B), with M a module tensor category over the braided fusion category B. Models built from the same B are related by dualities / discrete gauging.
  • Generalizations of Kitaev's honeycomb model from braided fusion categories
    Luisa Eck, Paul Fendley
    We explore two-dimensional quantum lattice models constructed from braided fusion categories, which generalize Kitaev's honeycomb model. Their categorical 1-form symmetries make them promising candidates for chiral topological order.
  • From the XXZ chain to the integrable Rydberg-blockade ladder via non-invertible duality defects
    Luisa Eck, Paul Fendley
    We discuss duality mappings between four different quantum lattice models, including the spin-1/2 XXZ chain and a model describing Rydberg-blockade atoms on a square ladder, as well as the non-invertible symmetries in these models.
  • Critical lines and ordered phases in the Rydberg-blockade ladder
    Luisa Eck, Paul Fendley
    We explore the phase diagram of the Rydberg-blockade ladder away from the integrable line and find different symmetry-broken and disordered phases together with first and second order phase transitions between them.

Talks and conferences

Education

2021 - 2025 University of Oxford, DPhil Theoretical Physics
DPhil thesis: Quantum lattice models from fusion categories
2020 - 2021 University of Cambridge, MaSt Part III
statistical field theory, percolation, modern statistical methods, distribution theory
Part III essay on directed percolation and absorbing-state phase transitions
2016 - 20 LMU Munich, B.Sc. Physics
condensed matter, quantum information; Bachelor’s thesis on topological quantum memories