Mondragon-Shem Group

We study non-equilibrium quantum phenomena arising from strong driving, strong interactions, and coupling to structured environments. Our focus is on theoretical tools that connect these effects, including phases with no static counterpart, to emerging quantum technologies.

Quantum Batteries

We study quantum batteries, meaning quantum systems designed for energy storage and controlled charging and discharging. We examine how coherence, entanglement, and many-body interactions affect key performance metrics such as charging power, scalability, and robustness.

Non-Ergodic Quantum Dynamics

We study non-ergodic dynamics in isolated quantum systems, where thermalization can fail and memory of initial conditions can persist. We focus on mechanisms such as many-body localization (MBL) and constrained dynamics, where kinematic constraints and localization can lead to novel non-equilibrium behavior relevant to coherence stability and the foundations of quantum statistical mechanics.

Driven Floquet Systems

We investigate periodically driven (Floquet) systems that realize phases with no equilibrium counterpart, including discrete time crystals and anomalous Floquet topological phases. Using the Floquet lattice viewpoint, along with frequency-domain polarization and non-adiabatic Berry phases, we study quantized invariants that distinguish driven phases from those continuously connected to static states.

Quantum Thermalization and Non-Equilibrium Quantum Systems

Quantum Batteries

Non-Ergodic Quantum Dynamics

Driven Floquet Systems

Selected Publications

Quantized frequency-domain polarization of driven phases of matter

Many-body mobility edge due to symmetry-constrained dynamics and strong interactions

Imaging and controlling vortex dynamics in mesoscopic superconductor-normal-metal-superconductor arrays

History-dependent dissipative vortex dynamics in superconducting arrays