Quantum many-body physics
Correlated lattice models, topological phases, emergent behavior, thermalization, and driven quantum matter.
Scarola Research Group
Theory, algorithms, and computation for quantum matter, AMO systems, and quantum information.
Quantum many-body theory with laboratory relevance
Theory, algorithms, and computation for quantum matter, AMO systems, and quantum information
Our group develops theoretical and computational tools for strongly interacting quantum systems, with particular emphasis on atomic, molecular, and optical platforms, strongly correlated electrons, quantum simulation, and quantum information. We aim to connect rigorous many-body theory with experimentally relevant questions and scalable computational methods.
Research areas
Research themes
The group sits at the interface of quantum many-body physics, AMO platforms, computational condensed matter, and quantum information.
AMO and engineered quantum systems
Ultracold atoms and molecules, optical lattices and tweezers, resource states, and experimentally relevant observables.
Quantum information and simulation
Measurement-based protocols, hardware-aware algorithms, graph-state methods, and benchmarking of near-term quantum devices.
Computational physics
Exact diagonalization, DMRG, Monte Carlo, Floquet engineering workflows, and open-source scientific software.
Selected results
Representative papers across themes
- Toward Quantum Analogue Simulation of Many-Body Supersymmetry with Rydberg Atom Arrays (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2025). [DOI]
- Unveiling Supersolid Order via Vortex Trajectory Correlations (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2025). [DOI]
- Dispersion of the Excitations of Fractional Quantum Hall States (Science, 2009). [DOI]
- Cooper Instability of Composite Fermions (Nature, 2000). [DOI]
Open-source / community resources
Durable research infrastructure
The group contributes to research software and reusable community resources that support simulation, benchmarking, and reproducibility.
- ALPS: open scientific software for strongly correlated quantum systems and computational physics workflows.
- QPatLib: reusable measurement-pattern data for scalable measurement-based quantum simulation and benchmarking.
- Computational workflows that connect theory development, benchmarking, and student training.
For potential members
Work on questions that connect theory, computation, and quantum technology
Broad entry points
People with interest in condensed matter, AMO, quantum information, or scientific computing can all find natural project directions.
People with interest in condensed matter, AMO, quantum information, or scientific computing can all find natural project directions.
Methodological depth
Projects can span analysis, simulation, algorithm design, and open-science tool building.
Projects can span analysis, simulation, algorithm design, and open-science tool building.
Experiment-facing theory
Many projects are motivated by realistic platforms such as two-dimensional electron gases, optically trapped atoms and molecules, driven systems, and quantum devices.
Many projects are motivated by realistic platforms such as two-dimensional electron gases, optically trapped atoms and molecules, driven systems, and quantum devices.
Impact / Highlights
Visibility, support, and broader impact
Past support has included DARPA, AFOSR, ARO, DOE, and NSF.
- Current ARO-supported work includes quantum many-body models of optically confined ultracold atoms and molecules.
- Current DOE-supported work includes measurement-based quantum computing in quantum simulation.
- Current NSF-supported work includes the ALPS project through POSE Phase I and Phase II support.
- Research directions combine theory, computation, and reusable infrastructure for broader community use.
The group’s work spans foundational theory, experiment-facing modeling, quantum simulation, and open scientific software.
Professional profile
Research leadership with broad relevance
Vito Scarola is a theoretical physicist working at the interface of quantum many-body physics, AMO theory, quantum simulation, and computational physics. His research combines analytical modeling, numerical methods, and experiment-facing theory, with applications ranging from ultracold atoms and molecules to strongly correlated electrons and quantum information.
This portfolio brings together fundamental many-body theory, hardware-relevant quantum simulation, and reusable scientific software resources that support collaboration across academia, national laboratories, and research-driven industry.
Leadership and service
Program building and community impact
- Lead or co-lead roles in federally supported research programs spanning DOE, NSF, AFOSR, ARO, and DARPA-supported directions.
- Contributions to community infrastructure through ALPS and open-science resources for quantum simulation and computational physics.
- Workshop organization, invited presentations, mentoring of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and sustained interdisciplinary collaboration.
Explore
Start here
Research
Read concise descriptions of the group’s main scientific directions, methods, and selected papers.
Publications
Browse recent and current highlights as well as foundational selected earlier contributions.
Software & Open Science
See the group’s role in scientific software, reproducibility, and reusable quantum simulation resources.