My research directions are String Theory; Quantum Information; Quantum Field Theory and Lattice Theory.
String Theory: explore the relaxation of strong constraints in double field theory and the resulting implications for stringy geometry, cosmological models, and effective D-brane actions in non-geometric flux backgrounds
Quantum Information: systematically investigate the connections between spectral form factors, out-of-time-ordered correlators, and quantum chaos by analyzing models with varying degrees of randomness, disorder correlations, and integrability-breaking source terms
Quantum Field Theory and Lattice Theory: develop and integrate non-Hermitian lattice formulations with adaptive perturbation and resummation techniques, benchmark them against numerical simulations, and apply them to strongly coupled quantum field theories to resolve sign problems, clarify the origin of symmetry breaking, and explore continuum limits and asymptotic safety in a controlled, nonperturbative manner
Matter->Molecure->Atom->Electron, Proton, and Neutron->Quark->Strings
Our familiar spacetime possibly not be fundamental. Newtonian Mechanics is convenient in our daily life, but it emerges from other theories.
In 9 years, the representative publications are in the following.
In String Theory, our work extend Double Field Theory beyond the supergravity spectrum by constructing a gauge-invariant quadratic action for string states with asymmetric oscillator numbers ($N_L = 2$, $N_R = 0$ and $N_L = 0$, $N_R = 2$), revealing new stringy effects in target space through a deformation of the weak constraint that generates graviton-like mass terms. I worked with Franco Pezzella.
In Quantum Information, we demonstrate that the spectral form factor, a diagnostic of quantum chaos, can be expressed as an out-of-time-ordered correlator averaged over the finite Heisenberg group, revealing a new group-theoretic interpretation of quantum chaotic dynamics. I worked with Robert de Mello Koch, Jia-Hui Huang, and Hendrik J.R. Van Zyl.
In Quantum Field Theory and Lattice Theory, we introduce and validate a non-Hermitian lattice formulation for interacting fermions by performing the first large-scale HMC simulations of the 2D Gross–Neveu–Yukawa model, demonstrating agreement with adaptive perturbation theory and revealing asymptotic safety via the RG flow. I worked with Hui Zhang.
Other representative publications are in the following.
In String Theory, this work explores classical solutions in Double Field Theory by analyzing Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker and spherically symmetric metrics without imposing the strong constraint, revealing their cosmological implications such as instability to anisotropic perturbations and potential for describing inflationary scenarios, thereby advancing understanding of how to relax constraints in Double Field Theory. I worked with Che-Min Shen.
In Quantum Field Theory and Lattice Theory, this work demonstrates that introducing imaginary polarization in spin-imbalanced Fermi gases enables sign-problem-free ab initio calculations, providing a viable path to access the finite-temperature phase diagram—including the (tri)critical point—through analytic continuation. I worked with Jens Braun, Jiunn-Wei Chen, Jian Deng, Joaquin E. Drut, Bengt Friman, and Yu-Dai Tsai.
The diverse range of topics is demonstrated through fruitful collaborations with researchers from other fields.
Po-Yao Chang (Condensed Matter Physics) (National Tsing Hua U., Taiwan)
Su-Kuan Chu (Quantum Information) (Maryland U., US)
Xingyu Guo (Nuclear Physics) (South China Normal U., China)
Ying-Lin Li (Condensed Matter Physics) (National Tsing Hua U., Taiwan)
Che-Min Shen (Cosmology) (National Taiwan U., Taiwan)
Masaki Tezuka (Condensed Matter Physics) (Kyoto U., Japan)
Hui Zhang (Nuclear Physics) (South China Normal U., China)
Published Article
P. H. C. Lau, C. T. Ma, J. Murugan and M. Tezuka, ``Matter Coupling of Dirac Matter in the Context of the SYK Model: Non-Gaussian Random Couplings and Bulk Mass Deformations,'' JHEP 02, 162 (2026) [arXiv:2507.09919 [hep-th]].
C. T. Ma and H. Zhang, ``Lattice Chiral Fermion without Hermiticity,'' Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 40, no.23, 2530008 (2025) [arXiv:2411.09886 [hep-lat]].
Y. L. Li, C. T. Ma and P. Y. Chang, ``Chaotic-integrable transition for the disordered orbital Hatsugai-Kohmoto model,'' Phys. Rev. B 111, no.24, 245124 (2025) [arXiv:2411.08496 [cond-mat.str-el]].
X. Guo, C. T. Ma and H. Zhang, ``Non-Hermitian lattice fermions in the 2D Gross-Neveu-Yukawa model,'' Phys. Rev. D 110, no.3, 034502 (2024) [arXiv:2404.18441 [hep-th]].
P. H. C. Lau, C. T. Ma, J. Murugan and M. Tezuka, ``On the backreaction of Dirac matter in JT gravity and SYK model,'' Phys. Lett. B 853, 138702 (2024) [arXiv:2312.06128 [hep-th]].
C. T. Ma and H. Zhang, ``Study of Asymptotic Free Scalar Field Theories from Adaptive Perturbation Method,'' Annals Phys. 472, 169856 (2025) [arXiv:2305.05266 [hep-th]].
X. Guo and C. T. Ma, ``Quantifying Quantum Entanglement in Two-Qubit Mixed State from Connected Correlator,'' Int. J. Geom. Meth. Phys. 21, no.06, 2450107 (2024) [arXiv:2211.08638 [quant-ph]].
C. T. Ma, Y. Pan and H. Zhang, ``Explore the Origin of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking from Adaptive Perturbation Method,'' JHAP 4, no.1, 51-64 (2024) [arXiv:2205.00414 [hep-th]].
X. Guo and C. T. Ma, ``Non-locality ≠ quantum entanglement,'' J. Stat. Mech. 2212, 123101 (2022) [arXiv:2109.03871 [quant-ph]].
X. Guo, C. T. Ma and H. Zhang, ``Naive lattice fermion without doublers,'' Phys. Rev. D 104, no.9, 094505 (2021) [arXiv:2105.10977 [hep-lat]].
X. Guo and C. T. Ma, ``Tripartite Entanglement and Quantum Correlation,'' JHEP 05, 185 (2021) [arXiv:2103.02983 [quant-ph]].
C. Lau, C. T. Ma, J. Murugan and M. Tezuka, ``Correlated Disorder in the SYK$_{2}$ model,'' J. Phys. A 54, no.9, 095401 (2021) [arXiv:2003.05401 [hep-th]].
P. H. C. Lau, C. T. Ma, J. Murugan and M. Tezuka, ``Randomness and Chaos in Qubit Models,'' Phys. Lett. B 795, 230 (2019) [arXiv:1812.04770 [hep-th]].
S. K. Chu, C. T. Ma and C. H. Wu, ``Two-Dimensional Dilaton Gravity Theory and Lattice Schwarzian Theory,'' Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 34, no. 29, 1950176 (2019) [arXiv:1802.04599 [hep-th]].
P. Y. Chang, S. K. Chu and C. T. Ma, ``Bell's Inequality, Generalized Concurrence and Entanglement in Qubits,'' Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 34, no. 06n07, 1950032 (2019) [arXiv:1710.10493 [quant-ph]].
P. Y. Chang, S. K. Chu and C. T. Ma, ``Bell's Inequality and Entanglement in Qubits,'' JHEP 1709, 100 (2017) [arXiv:1705.06444 [quant-ph]].
C. T. Ma and C. M. Shen, ``Cosmological Implications from O(D,D),'' Fortsch. Phys. 62, 921 (2014) [arXiv:1405.4073 [hep-th]].