Personal Profile

Zhao Yu, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Hetao Institute of Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences (Shenzhen). He received his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Fudan University in 2026 under the supervision of Professor Wan Yidun. His main research areas are topological quantum states of matter theory and quantum field theory in curved spacetime. He has published 5 papers as first author or corresponding author in the Journal of High Energy Physics, and 1 paper as co-first author in Nature Physics.

Research interests

Topological quantum state theory. This research focuses on the structure, symmetries, and phase transitions of topological order, with emphasis on issues such as lattice field theory, anyon condensation, symmetry-enriched topological order, generalized and non-invertible symmetries, topological defects, and domain walls. It also explores the connections between topological field theory, category theory, critical theory, and microscopic models.

Quantum field theory in curved spacetime. This research investigates the semi-classical dynamics of quantum fields in curved spacetime, exploring a dynamical description based on observables such as correlation functions, and examining the influence of initial state conditions, local observations, and spacetime geometry on the evolution of quantum fields.

Education Experience

Ph.D. / 2020–2026  Fudan University  Theoretical Physics

B.Sc. / 2016–2020  Fudan University  Physics

Publications

[1] Nianrui Fu, Siyuan Wang, Yu Zhao, and Yidun Wan. “Anyon Condensation In Symmetry-Enriched Topological Phases: G-Grading of Multifusion Categories.” ArXiv:2607.24740.

[2] Yifei Wang, Yu Zhao, Yingcheng Li, Hao Song, and Yidun Wan. “Non-Abelian Particle-Loop, Fracton, and Planon Condensation in Cage-Net Models.” ArXiv:2604.24755.

[3] Nianrui Fu, Yu Zhao, and Yidun Wan. “Symmetry-enriched topological phases and their gauging: a string-net model realization.” JHEP 05 (2026) 016. ArXiv:2508.08245.

[4] Nianrui Fu, Siyuan Wang, Yu Zhao, and Yidun Wan. “Nonlinear symmetry-fragmentation of nonabelian anyons in symmetry-enriched topological phases: a string-net model realization.” JHEP 03 (2026) 091. ArXiv:2506.24115.

[5] Kaixin Ji, Yu Zhao, Ce Shen, Ling-Yan Hung, and Yidun Wan. “An algorithm to generate two-dimensional critical lattice models using competing anyon condensation.” Accepted for publication in Nature Physics. ArXiv:2506.05324.

[6] Yu Zhao and Yidun Wan. “Landau-Ginzburg paradigm of topological phases.” ArXiv:2506.05319.

[7] Yanyan Chen, Siyuan Wang, Yu Zhao, Yuting Hu, and Yidun Wan. “Classification of gapped domain walls of topological orders in 2+1 dimensions: a Levin-Wen model realization.” JHEP 06 (2025) 088. ArXiv:2502.07664.

[8] Yu Zhao and Yidun Wan. “Nonabelian anyon condensation in 2+1d topological orders: A string-net model realization.” JHEP 05 (2025) 156. ArXiv:2409.05852.

[9] Yu Zhao and Yidun Wan. “Noninvertible gauge invariance in (2+1)d topological orders: a string-net model realization.” JHEP 11 (2025) 138. ArXiv:2408.02664.

[10] Ding Ding, Yu Zhao, and Yidun Wan. “Effective dynamics of quantum fluctuations in field theory: with applications to cosmology.” JHEP 04 (2024) 086. ArXiv:2312.16295.

[11] Yu Zhao, Hongyu Wang, Yuting Hu, and Yidun Wan. “Symmetry fractionalized (irrationalized) fusion rules and two domain-wall Verlinde formulae.” JHEP 04 (2024) 115. ArXiv:2304.08475.

[12] Yu Zhao, Shan Huang, Hongyu Wang, Yuting Hu, and Yidun Wan. “Characteristic properties of a composite system of topological phases separated by gapped domain walls via an exactly solvable Hamiltonian model.” SciPost Phys. Core 6, 076 (2023). ArXiv:2209.12750.