Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-03-11Epub Date: 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.11.002
D. Maurin , L. Audouin , E. Berti , P. Coppin , M. Di Mauro , P. von Doetinchem , F. Donato , C. Evoli , Y. Génolini , P. Ghosh , I. Leya , M.J. Losekamm , S. Mariani , J.W. Norbury , L. Orusa , M. Paniccia , T. Poeschl , P.D. Serpico , A. Tykhonov , M. Unger , L. Šerkšnytė
{"title":"Precision cross-sections for advancing cosmic-ray physics and other applications: A comprehensive programme for the next decade","authors":"D. Maurin , L. Audouin , E. Berti , P. Coppin , M. Di Mauro , P. von Doetinchem , F. Donato , C. Evoli , Y. Génolini , P. Ghosh , I. Leya , M.J. Losekamm , S. Mariani , J.W. Norbury , L. Orusa , M. Paniccia , T. Poeschl , P.D. Serpico , A. Tykhonov , M. Unger , L. Šerkšnytė","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cosmic-ray physics in the GeV-to-TeV energy range has entered a precision era thanks to recent data from space-based experiments. However, the poor knowledge of nuclear reactions, in particular for the production of antimatter and secondary nuclei, limits the information that can be extracted from these data, such as source properties, transport in the Galaxy and indirect searches for particle dark matter. The <em>Cross-Section for Cosmic Rays at CERN</em> workshop series has addressed the challenges encountered in the interpretation of high-precision cosmic-ray data, with the goal of strengthening emergent synergies and taking advantage of the complementarity and know-how in different communities, from theoretical and experimental astroparticle physics to high-energy and nuclear physics. In this paper, we present the outcomes of the third edition of the workshop that took place in 2024. We present the current state of cosmic-ray experiments and their perspectives, and provide a detailed road map to close the most urgent gaps in cross-section data, in order to efficiently progress on many open physics cases, which are motivated in the paper. Finally, with the aim of being as exhaustive as possible, this report touches several other fields – such as cosmogenic studies, space radiation protection and hadrontherapy – where overlapping and specific new cross-section measurements, as well as nuclear code improvement and benchmarking efforts, are also needed. We also briefly highlight further synergies between astroparticle and high-energy physics on the question of cross-sections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1161 ","pages":"Pages 1-81"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145527942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-03-04Epub Date: 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.005
Xue-Jia Yu , Limei Xu , Hai-Qing Lin
{"title":"Topological physics in quantum critical systems","authors":"Xue-Jia Yu , Limei Xu , Hai-Qing Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Topology forms a cornerstone in modern condensed matter and statistical physics, offering a new framework to classify the phases and phase transitions beyond the traditional Landau paradigm. However, it is widely believed that topological properties are destroyed when the bulk energy gap closes, making it highly nontrivial to consider topology in gapless quantum critical systems. To address these challenges, recent advancements have sought to generalize the notion of topology to systems without a bulk energy gap, including quantum critical points and critical phases, collectively referred to as gapless symmetry-protected topological states. Extending topology to gapless quantum critical systems challenges the traditional belief in condensed matter physics that topological edge states are typically tied to the presence of a bulk energy gap. Furthermore, it suggests that topology plays a crucial role in classifying quantum phase transitions even if they belong to the same universality class, fundamentally enriching the textbook understanding of phase transitions. Given its importance, here we give a pedagogical review of the current progress of topological physics in quantum critical systems. We introduce the topological properties of quantum critical points and generalize them to stable critical phases, both for noninteracting and interacting systems. Additionally, we discuss further generalizations and future directions, including higher dimensions, nonequilibrium phase transitions, and realizations in modern experiments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1160 ","pages":"Pages 1-56"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-02-25Epub Date: 2025-11-12DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.11.001
Stefano Baiguera , Vijay Balasubramanian , Pawel Caputa , Shira Chapman , Jonas Haferkamp , Michal P. Heller , Nicole Yunger Halpern
{"title":"Quantum complexity in gravity, quantum field theory, and quantum information science","authors":"Stefano Baiguera , Vijay Balasubramanian , Pawel Caputa , Shira Chapman , Jonas Haferkamp , Michal P. Heller , Nicole Yunger Halpern","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantum complexity quantifies the difficulty of preparing a state or implementing a unitary transformation with limited resources. Applications range from quantum computation to condensed matter physics and quantum gravity. We seek to bridge the approaches of these fields, which define and study complexity using different frameworks and tools. We describe several definitions of complexity, along with their key properties. In quantum information theory, we focus on complexity growth in random quantum circuits. In quantum many-body systems and quantum field theory (QFT), we discuss a geometric definition of complexity in terms of geodesics on the unitary group. In dynamical systems, we explore a definition of complexity in terms of state or operator spreading, as well as concepts from tensor-networks. We also outline applications to simple quantum systems, quantum many-body models, and QFTs including conformal field theories (CFTs). Finally, we explain the proposed relationship between complexity and gravitational observables within the holographic anti-de Sitter (AdS)/CFT correspondence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1159 ","pages":"Pages 1-77"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145486311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-02-18Epub Date: 2025-11-08DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.007
Eric D’Hoker , Thomas T. Dumitrescu , Efrat Gerchkovitz , Emily Nardoni
{"title":"Cascading from N=2 supersymmetric Yang–Mills theory to confinement and chiral symmetry breaking in adjoint QCD","authors":"Eric D’Hoker , Thomas T. Dumitrescu , Efrat Gerchkovitz , Emily Nardoni","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We argue that adjoint QCD in <span><math><mrow><mn>3</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> dimensions, with any <span><math><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>U</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>N</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></math></span> gauge group and two Weyl fermion flavors (i.e. one adjoint Dirac fermion), confines and spontaneously breaks its chiral symmetries via the condensation of a fermion bilinear. We flow to this theory from pure <span><math><mrow><mi>N</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></math></span> SUSY Yang–Mills theory with the same gauge group, by giving a SUSY-breaking mass <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span> to the scalars in the <span><math><mrow><mi>N</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></math></span> vector multiplet. This flow can be analyzed rigorously at small <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span>, where it leads to a deconfined vacuum at the origin of the <span><math><mrow><mi>N</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></math></span> Coulomb branch. The analysis can be extended to all <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span> using an Abelian dual description that arises from the <span><math><mi>N</mi></math></span> multi-monopole points of the <span><math><mrow><mi>N</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></math></span> theory. At each such point, there are <span><math><mrow><mi>N</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> hypermultiplet Higgs fields <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>h</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msubsup></math></span>, which are <span><math><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>U</mi><msub><mrow><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span> doublets. We provide a detailed study of the phase diagram as a function of <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span>, by analyzing the semi-classical phases of the dual using a combination of analytic and numerical techniques. The result is a cascade of first-order phase transitions, along which the Higgs fields <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>h</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msubsup></math></span> successively turn on, and which interpolates between the Coulomb branch at small <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span>, where all <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mrow><mi>h</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msubsup><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow></math></span>, and a maximal Higgs branch, where all <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mrow><mi>h</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msubsup><mo>≠</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow></math></span>, at sufficiently large <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span>. We show that this maximal Higgs branch precisely matches the confining and chiral symmetry breaking phase of two-flavor adjoint QCD, including its broken and unbroken symmetries, its massless spectrum, and the expected large-<span><math><mi>N</mi></math></span> scaling of various observables. The spontaneous breaking pattern <span><math><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>U</mi","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1158 ","pages":"Pages 1-99"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-02-12Epub Date: 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.010
Xin Lu , Jiawei Feng , Shengjie Lai , Petter Holme , Shuo Liu , Zhanwei Du , Xiaoqian Yuan , Siqing Wang , Yunxuan Li , Xiaoyu Zhang , Yuan Bai , Xiaojun Duan , Wenjun Mei , Hongjie Yu , Suoyi Tan , Fredrik Liljeros
{"title":"Human mobility in epidemic modeling","authors":"Xin Lu , Jiawei Feng , Shengjie Lai , Petter Holme , Shuo Liu , Zhanwei Du , Xiaoqian Yuan , Siqing Wang , Yunxuan Li , Xiaoyu Zhang , Yuan Bai , Xiaojun Duan , Wenjun Mei , Hongjie Yu , Suoyi Tan , Fredrik Liljeros","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human mobility forms the backbone of contact patterns through which infectious diseases propagate, fundamentally shaping the spatio-temporal dynamics of epidemics and pandemics. While traditional models are often based on the assumption that all individuals have the same probability of infecting every other individual in the population, a so-called random homogeneous mixing, they struggle to catch the complex and heterogeneous nature of real-world human interactions. Recent advancements in data-driven methodologies and computational capabilities have unlocked the potential of integrating high-resolution human mobility data into epidemic modeling, significantly improving the accuracy, timeliness, and applicability of epidemic risk assessment, contact tracing, and intervention strategies. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current landscape in human mobility-informed epidemic modeling. We explore several data sources and representations of human mobility, and examine the behavioral and structural roles of mobility and contact in shaping disease transmission dynamics. Furthermore, the review spans a wide range of epidemic modeling approaches, ranging from classical compartmental models to network-based, agent-based, and machine learning models. It also discusses how mobility integration enhances risk management and response strategies during epidemics. By synthesizing these insights, the review can serve as a foundational resource for researchers and practitioners, bridging the gap between epidemiological theory and the dynamic complexities of human interaction while charting clear directions for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1157 ","pages":"Pages 1-45"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-02-05Epub Date: 2025-11-03DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.006
Martina Malberti , Xiaohu Sun
{"title":"Precision timing detectors","authors":"Martina Malberti , Xiaohu Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Precision timing has played a critical role in high-energy physics experiments, particularly for particle identification and the suppression of pileup under the challenging conditions expected at future colliders like the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). Over the past decades, significant advancements in timing measurement technologies have been made to meet the demands of increasingly complex collider environments. After introducing the motivation for precision timing in collider experiments, the underlying physical principles of timing measurements and the most important factors influencing the time resolution of a detector, this review presents a survey of key detector technologies developed in recent years, including scintillators read out by silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMs), low-gain avalanche diodes (LGADs), multi-gap resistive plate chambers (MRPCs). The integration of precision timing into large-scale systems and their calibration are discussed with examples from detectors at current collider experiments. Finally, we explore emerging technologies and future directions in the field, highlighting their potential impact on the next generation of high-energy physics experiments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1156 ","pages":"Pages 1-39"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145428779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.008
Kaveh Moghadasi , Mergen H. Ghayesh , Jiawen Li , Eric Hu , Robert Fitridge
{"title":"A review on computational assessment of biomedical markers in carotid arteries","authors":"Kaveh Moghadasi , Mergen H. Ghayesh , Jiawen Li , Eric Hu , Robert Fitridge","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review aims to explore advanced computational assessment approaches for carotid artery research by providing a comprehensive overview focusing on different theoretical and modelling techniques. As a key vessel, the carotid artery supplies oxygenated blood to the head and the brain. The vertebral arteries are smaller than the carotid arteries and supply to posterior part of the brain. The carotid and vertebral arteries meet at the base of the skull, forming the Circle of Willis which provides collateral flow to the brain when one artery is occluded. Understanding the biomedical markers and structural response of the carotid artery is essential to evaluate progression and risks associated with atherosclerosis, which is a leading cause of stroke and other cardiovascular events. In addition to atherosclerosis, the analysis will be complemented by a discussion of other less common carotid artery conditions. The review comprises a comprehensive evaluation of biomechanical research of the carotid artery by categorising articles into three broad approaches, namely structure analysis, computational fluid dynamics, and fluid–structure interaction. By summarising recent advancements and identifying existing knowledge gaps, this paper highlights the potential of integrative modelling approaches to enhance diagnostics, risk assessment, and the development of targeted treatments for carotid artery diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1155 ","pages":"Pages 1-94"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145428778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-01-22Epub Date: 2025-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.004
Daniel Baldomir , Daniel Failde
{"title":"On the physical foundations of topological thermoelectricity and its improvement","authors":"Daniel Baldomir , Daniel Failde","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermoelectricity has extraordinary scientific and technological interest due to its ability to utilize heat losses through the Seebeck effect and Peltier cooling in circuits. However, the efficiency of thermoelectric materials remains relatively low, making them economically viable in fewer cases than desired. A promising possibility lies in the best thermoelectric materials at room temperature, specifically the well-known tetradymite-type structures, primarily compounds based on <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>Bi</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><msub><mrow><mi>Te</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>. These materials are characterized as topological insulators, allowing for the introduction of new physical perspectives. Therefore, it is reasonable to closely investigate the interplay between topology and thermoelectricity in these systems, with the aim of elucidating the underlying physical mechanisms. We show that, near the surface–bulk interface, the electrodynamics of axions coupled to massless fermions, Thouless pump currents, the chiral anomaly, and topological mass are intimately interconnected in a way that enables the mutual conversion of heat and electrical energy. That gives rise to a thermoelectric effect whose efficiency can be enhanced by integer multiples. We extend this study to heterostructures of topological insulators and topological superconductors. These phases are topologically complementary and may use the proximity effect to share topological quantum numbers. This offers a pathway to enhance topological thermoelectricity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1154 ","pages":"Pages 1-48"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145398376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Physics ReportsPub Date : 2026-01-18Epub Date: 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.001
Neill Lambert , Eric Giguère , Paul Menczel , Boxi Li , Patrick Hopf , Gerardo Suárez , Marc Gali , Jake Lishman , Rushiraj Gadhvi , Rochisha Agarwal , Asier Galicia , Nathan Shammah , Paul Nation , J.R. Johansson , Shahnawaz Ahmed , Simon Cross , Alexander Pitchford , Franco Nori
{"title":"QuTiP 5: The Quantum Toolbox in Python","authors":"Neill Lambert , Eric Giguère , Paul Menczel , Boxi Li , Patrick Hopf , Gerardo Suárez , Marc Gali , Jake Lishman , Rushiraj Gadhvi , Rochisha Agarwal , Asier Galicia , Nathan Shammah , Paul Nation , J.R. Johansson , Shahnawaz Ahmed , Simon Cross , Alexander Pitchford , Franco Nori","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>QuTiP, the Quantum Toolbox in Python (Johansson et al., 2012, Johansson et al., 2013), has been at the forefront of open-source quantum software for the past 13 years. It is used as a research, teaching, and industrial tool, and has been downloaded millions of times by users around the world. Here we introduce the latest developments in QuTiP v5, which are set to have a large impact on the future of QuTiP and enable it to be a modern, continuously developed and popular tool for another decade and more. We summarize the code design and fundamental data layer changes as well as efficiency improvements, new solvers, applications to quantum circuits with QuTiP-QIP, and new quantum control tools with QuTiP-QOC. Additional flexibility in the data layer underlying all “quantum objects” in QuTiP allows us to harness the power of state-of-the-art data formats and packages like JAX, CuPy, and more. We explain these new features with a series of both well-known and new examples. The code for these examples is available in a static form on GitHub (<span><span>https://github.com/qutip/qutip-paper-v5-examples</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>) and as continuously updated and documented notebooks in the qutip-tutorials package (<span><span>https://github.com/qutip/qutip-tutorials</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1153 ","pages":"Pages 1-62"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nonequilibrium physics of brain dynamics","authors":"Ramón Nartallo-Kaluarachchi , Morten Kringelbach , Gustavo Deco , Renaud Lambiotte , Alain Goriely","doi":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physrep.2025.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Information processing in the brain is coordinated by the dynamic activity of neurons and neural populations at a range of spatiotemporal scales. These dynamics, captured in the form of electrophysiological recordings and neuroimaging, show evidence of time-irreversibility and broken detailed balance suggesting that the brain operates in a nonequilibrium stationary state. Furthermore, the level of nonequilibrium, measured by entropy production or irreversibility appears to be a crucial signature of cognitive complexity and consciousness. The subsequent study of neural dynamics from the perspective of nonequilibrium statistical physics is an emergent field that challenges the assumptions of symmetry and maximum-entropy that are common in traditional models. In this review, we discuss the plethora of exciting results emerging at the interface of nonequilibrium dynamics and neuroscience. We begin with an introduction to the mathematical paradigms necessary to understand nonequilibrium dynamics in both continuous and discrete state–spaces. Next, we review both model-free and model-based approaches to analysing nonequilibrium dynamics in both continuous-state recordings and neural spike-trains, as well as the results of such analyses. We briefly consider the topic of nonequilibrium computation in neural systems, before concluding with a discussion and outlook on the field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":404,"journal":{"name":"Physics Reports","volume":"1152 ","pages":"Pages 1-43"},"PeriodicalIF":29.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}