2026 Simons Collaboration on Ultra Quantum Matter Annual Meeting

Xie Chen
California Institute of Technology

SPT Transition on Klein Bottle and Emergent Symmetry

In this talk, we start from an observation about the 2D Z2 SPT when it is put on the Klein bottle: inserting a Z2 flux through the orientation-reversing cycle induces a Z2 symmetry charge. The role played by reflection symmetry in this example led us to define the notion of “emergent symmetry” in gapped phases. We comment on its connection to sequential circuit, the Symmetry TFT formalism, and potential implications on low energy excitations at critical points.

Dogus Cubuk
Periodic Labs

Combining Experiments, Large Language Models, and Theory to Discover Quantum Materials

TBA

Michael Hermele
University of Colorado Boulder

Navigating the Fracton Landscape

There are now many examples of gapped fracton models, which are defined by the presence of restricted-mobility excitations above the quantum ground state. This complex landscape of examples is far from being mapped out. In this talk, Michael Hermele will describe recent progress on characterization and classification of fracton orders, and on related problems for subsystem symmetries.

Michael Levin
University of Chicago

Entanglement Probes of Topological Phases of Matter

Michael Levin will discuss recent progress in understanding entanglement-based probes of 2D topological phases of matter. These probes are supposed to extract universal topological information from a many-body ground state. Specifically, Levin will discuss (1) the topological entanglement entropy, which is supposed to give information about whether the ground state supports anyon exciations, and (2) the modular commutator and its variants, which are supposed to tell us the chiral central charge.

Nathan Seiberg
Institute for Advanced Study

Symmetry, Anomaly, Gauging, Proliferation, and Condensation

In the study of topological quantum field theories in 2+1 dimensions, it is common to perform an operation known as “anyon condensation.” This term is misleading. Two more appropriate terms for this operation are “gauging a one-form symmetry” or “anyon proliferation.” Interestingly, these two terms are similar but not identical. We will clarify these different notions and use this insight to analyze various phase transitions out of a given topological order.

Shu-Heng Shao
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Chiral Anomalies and CPT

We discuss how the vector and axial U(1) symmetries of a massless Dirac fermion in 1+1d are realized in Hamiltonian lattice systems. Interestingly, these two lattice charges do not commute and form a non-abelian algebra, first discussed by Onsager. We prove that these symmetries force the low-energy phase to be gapless, reminiscent of consequences from perturbative anomalies of continuous global symmetries in quantum field theory. This lattice anomaly is of order 2, but when a lattice CPT symmetry is further imposed, the anomaly becomes of infinite order (i.e., torsion-free).

Senthil Todadri
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Superconductivity from the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

The fractional quantum Hall effect was discovered in lattice systems in zero magnetic field in 2023. Doping such a state leads naturally to a realization of a mobile fluid of anyons. Senthil Todadri will describe some possible ground states of such a fluid refining old ideas on anyon-induced superconductivity. Todadri will show that a variety of conducting states, either metallic or superconducting, can arise. For the prominent 2/3 state seen in experiments, Todadri will show that the anyon-induced mechanism provides a possible explanation of the superconductivity observed very recently. Finally, Senthil will show that, in the presence of disorder, the first superconductor to form in the doped state is an “anomalous vortex glass” with randomly pinned spontaneous vortices despite the absence of an external magnetic field. He will discuss the implications for the phenomenology of the observed superconducting state.

Ashvin Vishwanath
Harvard University

What Is Ultra-Quantum Matter?

TBA2

Participation in the meeting falls into the following four categories. An individual’s participation category is communicated via their letter of invitation.

The Simons Foundation will never ask for credit card information or require payment for registration to our events.

Group A – Speakers & Organizers

Individuals in Group A receive travel and hotel coordination within the following parameters:

Travel
Economy Class: For flights that are three hours or less to your destination, the maximum allowable class of service is Economy class.
Premium Economy Class: For flights where the total air travel time (excluding connection time) is more than three hours and less than seven hours per segment to your destination, the maximum allowable class of service is premium economy.
Business Class: When traveling internationally (or to Hawaii/Alaska) travelers are permitted to travel in Business Class on those segments that are seven hours or more. If the routing is over budget, a premium economy or mixed-class ticket will be booked.

Hotel
Up to three nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, January 21 and departing on Saturday, January 24.

Group B – Funded Participants

Individuals in Group B receive travel and hotel coordination within the following parameters:

Travel
Economy class travel will be booked regardless of flight length.

Hotel
Up to three nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, January 21 and departing on Saturday, January 24.

Group C – Unfunded Participants

Individuals in Group C will not receive financial support but are encouraged to enjoy all conference-hosted meals.

Group D – Remote Participants

Individuals in Group D will participate in the meeting remotely.

Air and Rail

For funded individuals, the foundation will arrange and pay for round-trip travel from their home city to the conference city. All travel and hotel arrangements must be booked through the Simons Foundation’s preferred travel agency.

Travel Deviations

The following travel specifications are considered deviations and will only be accommodated if the cost is less than or equal to the amount the Simons Foundation would pay for a standard round-trip ticket from your home city to the conference city:

• Preferred airline
• Preferred travel class
• Specific flights/flight times
• Travel dates outside those associated with the conference
• Arriving or departing from an airport other than your home city or conference city airports, i.e. multi-segment or triangle trips.

All deviations must be reviewed and approved by the Simons Foundation and, if the cost is more than what would normally be paid, a reimbursement quote must be obtained through the foundation’s travel agency before proceeding to booking and paying for travel out of pocket. All reimbursements for travel booked directly will be paid after the conclusion of the meeting.

Changes After Ticketing

All costs related to changes made to ticketed travel are to be paid for by the participant and are not reimbursable. Please contact the foundation’s travel agency for further assistance.

Personal & Rental Cars

Personal car and rental trips over 250 miles each way require prior approval from the Simons Foundation via email.

Rental cars must be pre-approved by the Simons Foundation.

The Royalton Park Avenue offers valet parking. Please note there are no in-and-out privileges when using the hotel’s garage, therefore it is encouraged that participants walk or take public transportation to the Simons Foundation.

Hotel

Funded individuals who require hotel accommodations are hosted by the foundation for a maximum of three nights, arriving on Wednesday, January 21 and departing on Saturday, January 24.

Any additional nights are at the attendee’s own expense. To arrange accommodations, please register at the link included in your invitation.

Royalton Park Avenue
420 Park Ave S.
New York, NY 10016
https://www.royaltonparkavenue.com/

For driving directions to the Royalton Park Avenue, please click here.

Overview

In-person participants will be reimbursed for meals and local expenses including ground transportation. Expenses should be submitted through the foundation’s online expense reimbursement platform after the meeting’s conclusion.

Expenses accrued because of meetings not directly related to the Simons Foundation-hosted meeting (a satellite meeting or meeting held at another institution, for example) will not be reimbursed by the Simons Foundation and should be paid by other sources.

Below are key reimbursement takeaways; a full policy will be provided with the final logistics email circulated approximately 2 weeks prior to the meeting’s start.

Meals

The daily meal limit is $125; itemized receipts are required for expenses over $24 USD. The foundation DOES NOT provide a meal per diem and only reimburses actual meal expenses up the following amounts.

• Breakfast $20
• Lunch $30
• Dinner $75

Allowable Meal Expenses

• Meals taken on travel days (when you traveled by air or train).
• Meals not provided on a meeting day, dinner on Friday for example.
• Group dinners consisting of fellow meeting participants paid by a single person will be reimbursed up to $75 per person and the amount will count towards the $125 daily meal limit.

Unallowable Meal Expenses

• Meals taken outside those provided by the foundation (breakfast, lunch, breaks and/or dinner).
• Meals taken on days not associated with Simons Foundation-coordinated events.
• Minibar expenses.
• Meal expenses for a non-foundation guest.

• Ubers, Lyfts, taxis, etc., taken to and from restaurants in Manhattan.

  • Accommodations will be made for those with mobility restrictions.

Ground Transportation

Expenses for ground transportation will be reimbursed for travel days (i.e. traveling to/from the airport or train station) as well as subway and bus fares while in Manhattan are reimbursable.

Transportation to/from satellite meetings are not reimbursable.

Attendance

In-person participants and speakers are expected to attend all meeting days. Participants receiving hotel and travel support wishing to arrive on meeting days which conclude at 2:00 PM will be asked to attend remotely.

Entry & Building Access

Upon arrival, guests will be required to show their photo ID to enter the Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute buildings. After checking-in at the meeting reception desk, guests will be able to show their meeting name badge to re-enter the building. If you forget your name badge, you will need to provide your photo ID.

The Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute buildings are not considered “open campuses” and meeting participants will only have access to the spaces in which the meeting will take place. All other areas are off limits without prior approval.

If you require a private space to conduct a phone call or remote meeting, please contact your meeting manager at least 48-hours ahead of time so that they may book a space for you within the foundation’s room reservation system.

Guests & Children

Meeting participants are required to give 24-hour advance notice of any guests meeting them at the Simons Foundation either before or after the meeting. Outside guests are discouraged from joining meeting activities, including meals.

With the exception of Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute staff, ad hoc meeting participants who did not receive a meeting invitation directly from the Simons Foundation are not permitted.

Children under the age of 18 are not permitted to attend meetings at the Simons Foundation. Furthermore, the Simons Foundation does not provide childcare facilities or support of any kind. Special accommodations will be made for nursing parents.

Meeting & Policy Questions

Meghan Fazzi
Senior Manager, Events & Administration, MPS
[email protected]

Travel & Hotel Support

FCM Travel Meetings & Events
[email protected]
Hours: M-F, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM ET
+1-888-789-6639