Black Holes and the Boundaries of Reality
New research reveals a crucial link between the properties of black holes and the central charge of their corresponding quantum field theories.
Science
How Neural Networks ‘See’: The Physics of Filtering
![Repeated application of [latex]3\times 3[/latex] translation filters, modulated by a parameter β, reveals a surprising sensitivity in pattern evolution-specifically, when β equals one, a circular test pattern effectively sheds its core, with the remaining edge exhibiting maximum translational velocity.](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.24338v1/x63.png)
A new theory reveals that the fundamental way convolutional neural networks process information is surprisingly akin to the behavior of waves and particles in physics.
Unveiling the Quark-Gluon Plasma with Holographic Jets
![The study demonstrates how the JQ parameter-a characteristic within a heavy quark model defined by [latex]\mu=1[/latex], [latex]\nu=4.5[/latex], and [latex]c_B=-0.05[/latex]-exhibits a nuanced dependence on temperature, shifting predictably across orientations of θ ranging from 0 to [latex]\pi/2[/latex], a relationship further clarified through detailed magnification.](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.24204v1/x4.png)
New research uses holographic models to explore how energetic particles are suppressed as they travel through the hot, dense matter created in heavy-ion collisions.
Unveiling Hidden States: How Spin-Orbit Coupling Reveals Fermi Polaron and Molecule Behavior
![Spin-orbit coupling offers a nuanced pathway to detect quasiparticles - initially revealing Fermi polarons through short-time linear response at low momenta [latex]\bar{k} << k_F[/latex], but faltering at higher momenta near the Fermi wavevector, necessitating an adiabatic evolution from a strongly coupled ground state to unveil molecular dispersions via center-of-mass momentum distribution as the coupling strength diminishes towards zero.](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.23918v1/x1.png)
Researchers are leveraging spin-orbit coupling to visualize the energy dispersions of Fermi polarons and molecules, offering new insights into their complex interactions and transitions.
Fluid Quantum: Taming the Infinite in Perfect Flow
![The calculation of the momentum-space Wightman function, a critical component in understanding thermal fluctuations, reveals contributions arising from distinct phonon propagation pathways - those fully within the thermalized state ([latex]TTTT[/latex]), mixed thermal-local pathways ([latex]T L T L[/latex]), and entirely local, superfluid-like pathways ([latex]L L L L[/latex]) - each shaping the system’s response to disturbance.](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.23793v1/x1.png)
New research clarifies the quantum behavior of perfect fluids, offering a pathway to calculate observable properties despite the complexities of underlying quantum mechanics.
Speeding Up the Search for Dark Matter
![The calculation of the thermally averaged effective cross section for a scalar particle-specifically one mirroring the quantum properties of up-type quarks-demonstrates that incorporating bound state formation, decay, and transitions among those states significantly alters predictions, a difference most pronounced when considering scenarios involving color-charged but electrically neutral particles at masses around [latex]10^6[/latex] GeV and employing running QCD and QED couplings.](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.23812v1/x1.png)
A new computational tool dramatically accelerates calculations of how dark matter particles interacted in the early universe, paving the way for more comprehensive cosmological modeling.
Beyond Equilibrium: How Anisotropic Flows Shape the Quark-Gluon Plasma
![A system driven from equilibrium by an influx of energy [latex]\Delta t[/latex] finds a holographic echo-a dual state mirroring its transient condition, suggesting that even fleeting imbalances leave indelible marks on the fabric of reality itself.](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.24909v1/IsotropicNonequilibriumState.png)
New research explores how non-equilibrium dynamics and directional flows profoundly impact the behavior of the ultra-hot matter created in heavy-ion collisions.
Spin Currents and Superconductivity: A Geometric Twist
A new semiclassical theory reveals how spin-orbit coupling shapes thermal and spin transport in proximitized superconductors, opening doors to novel thermo-spintronic devices.
Building Blocks of Reality: Combining Fields to Create Complex Solutions
![The evolving landscapes of kink orbits, charted across varying values of a constant [latex]CC[/latex] and differing widths σ, reveal how boundary and isolated topological defects-depicted in black-navigate a field of fixed (black) and variable (red) vacua, ultimately defining the stability and behavior of these complex formations.](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.23890v1/x12.png)
A new approach allows physicists to construct intricate field theories by merging simpler ones, focusing on maintaining and expanding the range of possible solutions.
Quarkonium in Motion: How Magnetic Fields Drive State Transitions
![The study demonstrates that a triangular magnetic-field pulse induces measurable Stückelberg oscillations-interference between amplitudes from two avoided crossings in the adiabatic energies [latex]E_{\pm}(t)[/latex]-resulting in a final transition probability that aligns with predictions from the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg (LZS) theory as a function of pulse duration [latex]t_{max}[/latex].](https://arxiv.org/html/2512.24072v1/x18.png)
New research details the dynamic behavior of quarkonium states as they respond to changing magnetic fields, revealing the crucial role of sweep rate and field shape.