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SYQC: Symposium Topology in Quantum and Classical Physics – From Topological Insulators to Active Matter

SYQC 1: Topology in Quantum and Classical Physics – From Topological Insulators to Active Matter

SYQC 1.4: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 16:45–17:15, HSZ 01

Topological invariants protect robust chiral currents in active matter — •Evelyn Tang — Rice University, Houston, USA

Living and active systems exhibit various emergent dynamics necessary for system regulation, growth, and motility. However, how robust dynamics arises from stochastic components remains unclear. Towards understanding this, I develop topological theories that support robust edge currents, effectively reducing the system dynamics to a lower-dimensional subspace. In particular, I will introduce stochastic networks in molecular configuration space that can model different systems from a circadian clock to the stochastic dynamics of cytoskeletal filaments. The edge localization results in new properties, e.g., the clock demonstrates increased precision with simultaneously decreased cost. These out-of-equilibrium systems further possess uniquely non-Hermitian features such as exceptional points and vorticity. More broadly, my work provides a blueprint for the design and control of novel and robust function in correlated and active systems.