Unveiling Hidden States at the Edge of Quantum Chaos
![Impurity challenges within thermal baths can be effectively modeled using a Wilson chain approach with a length cutoff [latex]\Lambda_{imp}[/latex] for non-interacting systems, but strongly-correlated baths necessitate representation via local tensors defined across impurity and bulk regions-also demarcated by [latex]\Lambda_{imp}[/latex]-allowing the impurity itself to function as a quantum probe for diagnosing quantum critical regions and associated crossovers during quantum phase transitions.](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.04729v1/main_text/Fig1.png)
A new theoretical approach accurately models the behavior of quantum impurities in complex materials, revealing exotic states and paving the way to understand quantum phase transitions.
Science
Smart Contracts Get Smarter: Building Trustworthy Autonomous Agents on the Blockchain
This review examines the emerging field of agentic AI operating on blockchain networks, focusing on the standards and execution models needed to ensure safe and compliant transactions.
Beyond Benchmarks: Quantifying PUF Security Against Machine Learning
![The proposed unified framework analyzes the unpredictability of [latex] \mathbf{Exp}\_{\mathbf{\mathcal{PUF},\mathcal{A}}}^{Unpredict}(\mathrm{N}) [/latex], offering a means to quantify inherent system decay through the evaluation of physical unpredictable functions.](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.04697v1/x3.png)
A new probabilistic framework offers a rigorous, architecture-independent method for evaluating the resilience of Physical Unclonable Functions to increasingly sophisticated machine learning attacks.
Beyond Passwords: Securing Identities with Quantum Biometrics
A new approach combines the strengths of post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution to fortify biometric authentication in decentralized networks.
Balancing Urgency and Privacy in Disaster Data Sharing
A new framework uses knowledge graphs and deontic logic to enable responsible data release during crises, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations while maximizing aid effectiveness.
Shattering Carbon Dioxide: How Ion Collisions Control Fragmentation
![Through native-frames analysis of [latex]CO^{3+}_{2}[/latex] breakup following collisions with Argon projectiles, the study disentangles sequential dissociation - where [latex]CO^{2+}[/latex] forms initially before yielding [latex]C^{+}[/latex] and [latex]O^{+}[/latex] - from concerted events, utilizing kinetic energy release and angular distributions to reconstruct the full process and establishing a framework for distinguishing decay pathways in complex molecular fragmentation.](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.03711v1/x2.png)
New research demonstrates that the electronic structure of colliding ions plays a crucial role in determining how highly charged carbon dioxide molecules break apart.
When Disaster Strikes, Can AI Answer the Call?
A new benchmark assesses how well artificial intelligence systems can provide accurate and complete answers to critical questions during disaster events.
Securing Industrial Containers: A Knowledge-Driven Approach
This research introduces a novel methodology for identifying security risks in containerized deployments within critical operational technology environments.
Decoding Efficiency: New Frontiers in Information Recovery
Researchers are exploring novel linear codes that optimize data recovery with minimal redundancy, pushing the boundaries of efficient information storage.
Beyond Bots: Proving Humanity in the Age of AI
A new security primitive, the Human Challenge Oracle, aims to thwart automated attacks by demanding ongoing, real-time human effort for verification.