Scalability gaps in Physics

Representative open questions

Showing 23 of 23 — one per source paper, highest-quality first.

• Entanglement entropy as a probe of topological phase transitions (2026) · doi

  The entanglement entropy diagnostic ΔSA has been validated only for 1D SSH models with specific disorder types (binary and quasiperiodic). Extension to 2D Chern insulators and 3D Z2 topological insulators requires investigation of how entanglement scaling and bulk-edge topology interplay differs in higher dimensions.

• Describing the wave function collapse process with a state-dependent Hamiltonian (2026) · doi

  The state-dependent Hamiltonian formalism is demonstrated only for single quantum systems; the extension to non-locally separated systems requires instantaneous information sharing to coordinate the appropriate measuring Hamiltonians, which the authors acknowledge raises fundamental concerns about the theory's physical viability beyond single-system measurement.

• Quantum skyrmions and high dimensional entanglement mediated by nanophotonics (2026) · doi

  The SPP exponential decay calculations (8% amplitude loss from input to output coupler, 11% in output coupler) are based on the imaginary component of the wave vector; however, the sensitivity of these decay values to fabrication tolerances in the grating periodicity (the paper mentions grating line width of ~λ_spp), inner/outer radii specifications, and surface roughness of the milled structures has not been addressed.

• Light-induced bimerons in a chiral magnet (2026) · doi

  The femtosecond laser-induced bimeron generation was demonstrated only in Co8Zn8Mn4 thin plates with thicknesses of 90-200 nm; the feasibility of optical writing of topological spin textures in thicker samples or other chiral magnet systems with in-plane magnetization remains unexplored.

• Overview of some quantum effects in chemistry (2011) · doi

  The learning algorithm approach using experimental apparatus as an analog computer to solve the Schrödinger equation has demonstrated convergence for isolated molecules and limited solution-phase examples, but lacks characterization of convergence rates, robustness to measurement noise in the fluorescence signal readout, and applicability to competing reaction channels with overlapping product absorption spectra.

• Quantum effects in chemistry: seven sample situations (2011) · doi

  The application of density matrix, QM/MM, and nonequilibrium Green's function approaches to real chemical systems with full electronic structure detail and coupled quantum/classical dynamics remains computationally incomplete. Scalability of these methods to realistic molecular systems with sufficient basis set size and bath coupling fidelity is noted as a significant outstanding challenge despite advances in GPU computing and path integral methods.

• M-dissipative generalized impedance boundary conditions, discrete spectra, and pointwise multipliers between fractional Sobolev spaces (2026) · doi

  The proof of Theorem 1.1 relies on the compact embedding H^{1/2}(∂Ω) ↪ L^2(∂Ω) ↪ H^{-1/2}(∂Ω), but the extension to non-Lipschitz or fractal boundaries where such Sobolev embeddings may fail, or to weighted Sobolev spaces with variable exponents, is not explored.

• Basis Sets in Quantum Chemistry (2017) · doi

  The applicability and accuracy of composite extrapolation methods (CBS, Gn, Wn, HEAT, cc-CA) achieving sub-kJ/mol accuracy has not been systematically tested for systems containing more than approximately 10 atoms. The paper explicitly identifies this computational scalability limit but does not provide guidance on how to adapt these composite procedures for larger molecular systems without prohibitive computational costs.

• Terrestrial matter effects on reactor antineutrino oscillations: constant vs. fluctuated density profiles (2026) · doi

  An even larger detector is necessary for effective shallow crust tomography using reactor antineutrinos, as current detector sensitivity cannot resolve localized anomalous density structures.

• Ultrathin Quarter-Waveplates Based on Two-Dimensional Anisotropic NbOCl2 (2026) · doi

  While giant optical anisotropy has been demonstrated in various 2D materials, the scalability and reproducibility of manufacturing ultrathin NbOCl2 waveplates for commercial applications remains unexplored.

• When learning physics mirrors doing physics (2023) · doi

  The paper does not address how ISLE can be scaled or adapted for large enrollment courses or institutions with limited resources and laboratory facilities.

• Numerical Solutions of Certain Time-Independent Quantum Mechanics Problems by Using the Python Environment (2024) · doi

  The Python implementation uses only 100 data points for plotting; higher resolution analysis and computational efficiency optimization are not discussed.

• A Time-Splitting Fourier-Collocation Method for Computing the Nonlinear Dirac Equation with Perfectly Matched Layers (2026) · doi

  The paper does not discuss extension to three-dimensional NLD equations with PML, only addressing one and two-dimensional cases.

• Extended envelope nonlinear waves in dusty plasma chain (2026) · doi

  The analysis is restricted to one-dimensional dusty plasma chains; extension to two-dimensional and three-dimensional configurations is not addressed.

• Evaluation of Relativistic Plasma Dispersion Functions Using Downward Recursion and Analytical Relations (2026) · doi

  Outside the specified parameter ranges for recurrence relations, numerical integration becomes necessary, limiting the computational efficiency of the proposed approach.

• Fast evaluation of unbiased atomic forces in ab initio variational Monte Carlo via the Lagrangian technique (2026) · doi

  The computation of the G tensor and error estimation on forces scales with the sixth power in system size, which will limit the maximum system size for which error estimation on the forces can be computed.

• The future of Higgs boson physics (2026) · doi

  CEPC will continue to adopt better technologies as progress in HEP worldwide R&D and industrial development advances

• Scattering phase shift in quantum mechanics on quantum computers (2026) · doi

  The paper discusses mapping field Hamiltonians onto quantum registers requiring Nx × Γϕ total quantum registers, but scalability challenges and practical resource requirements for realistic field theory simulations on near-term quantum computers are not addressed.

• Structured coherent thermal emission from non-Hermitian metasurfaces (2026) · doi

  The proposed approach is scalable across arbitrary wavelength regimes and provides a robust non-Hermitian platform for efficient generation of thermal vectorial vortex light in engineered metastructures.

• Navigating Diagnostic Constraints in Pediatric Herpes Simplex Encephalitis: Successful Empirical Acyclovir Therapy without PCR Confirmation (2026) · doi

  Due to severe logistical and financial constraints, neither magnetic resonance imaging nor single photon emission computed tomography was available or performed for the patient in this report.

• Interaction-region decoupling for deep-well quantum dynamics: Overcoming the interpolation bottleneck and revealing the intrinsic high-energy efficiency (2026) · doi

  The approach requires careful tuning of multiple numerical parameters (grid range, time step, absorbing potential strength) for different collision energy regimes, indicating a need for more robust or adaptive parameterization methods.

• Role of Cold Ions in Parallel Current and Hall Field Enhancement along Separatrices in Magnetopause Reconnection (2026) · doi

  The study uses 2.5D fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations; extension to full 3D simulations and comparison with observational data from magnetopause measurements is needed to validate findings.

• On the Temporal Tweezing of Cavity Solitons (2024) · doi

  The study focuses on single cavity soliton manipulation; extension to multiple interacting solitons and their collective dynamics under temporal tweezing is unexplored.