Weiguang Cao

Theoretical physics, mathematical physics, and quantum many-body theory

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Quantum Mathematics, University of Southern Denmark. Beginning 1 June 2026, I will join the Department of Physics and the HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as a CTCMP Postdoctoral Fellow.

My research interests include generalized and non-invertible symmetries, duality, anomalies, effective field theories, subsystem symmetries, topological phases of matter, and quantum lattice models.

Research Interests

I study algebraic and field-theoretic structures in quantum systems, especially the role of duality and generalized symmetry in constraining phases, defects, anomalies, and spectra. Recent work focuses on non-invertible symmetries in lattice models and their applications to symmetry-protected and symmetry-enriched topological phases.

CV

Employment

  • Jun 2026-May 2028 - CTCMP Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physics and HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
  • Dec 2024-May 2026 - Postdoc, Centre for Quantum Mathematics, University of Southern Denmark.
  • Oct-Nov 2024 - JSPS PD Fellow, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo.
  • Apr 2022-Sep 2024 - JSPS DC1 Fellow, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo.

Education

  • 2021-2024 - Ph.D. in Physics, University of Tokyo. Supervisor: Tom Melia and Masahito Yamazaki.
  • Thesis: Duality and non-invertible symmetry in models with subsystem symmetry.
  • 2023-2024 - Exchange student, Princeton University. Supervisor: Shinsei Ryu.
  • 2019-2021 - M.S. in Physics, University of Tokyo. Supervisor: Tom Melia.
  • Thesis: The application of Hilbert series in effective field theories: loops and asymptotics.
  • 2014-2018 - B.S. in Astronomy, Nanjing University. Supervisor: Yi Xie.
  • Thesis: Weak deflection gravitational lensing for photons coupled to Weyl tensor in a Schwarzschild black hole.

Funding and Honors

  • Principal investigator, Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, project 22KJ1072, 2021-2025.
  • CTCMP Postdoctoral Fellow, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2026.
  • Scholarship for Outstanding Self-financed Students Studying Abroad, China Scholarship Council, 2024.
  • Fellowship for Young Scientists DC1, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2023.

Publications

Full publication records are maintained on INSPIRE-HEP and Google Scholar. Selected recent papers:

  1. Linhao Li, Zhen Bi, and Weiguang Cao, Generalized symmetry-protected topological phases in mixed states from gauging dualities, arXiv:2603.17282.
  2. Hiromi Ebitsu, Bo Han, and Weiguang Cao, Modulated symmetries from generalized Lieb-Schultz-Mattis anomalies, SciPost Physics 20 (2026) 4, 117.
  3. Takuma Saito, Weiguang Cao, Bo Han, and Hiromi Ebitsu, Matrix product state classification of 1D multipole symmetry protected topological phases, Physical Review B 112 (2025) 19, 195133.
  4. Weiguang Cao, Masahito Yamazaki, and Linhao Li, Duality viewpoint of noninvertible symmetry-protected topological phases, Physical Review Letters 136 (2026) 040402.
  5. Weiguang Cao, Yuan Miao, and Masahito Yamazaki, Global symmetries of quantum lattice models under non-invertible dualities, SciPost Physics Core 8 (2025) 070.
  6. Weiguang Cao, Linhao Li, and Masahito Yamazaki, Generating lattice non-invertible symmetries, SciPost Physics 17 (2024) 104.

Activities

  • Mar 2026 - KouShare workshop for Japanese theoretical physicists, online.
  • Mar 2025 - Kyushu IAS-iTHEMS conference: Non-perturbative methods in QFT, Fukuoka, Japan.
  • Oct 2024 - Workshop: Generalized Symmetries and Vertex Operator Algebras, Japan; SUIAS workshop in HEP, Soochow University, China.
  • Sep 2024 - SymTFT advanced workshop, University of Science and Technology of China; Generalized symmetries in QFT 2024, YITP Kyoto.
  • Jun-Jul 2024 - IHES summer school, France.
  • 2023 - Categorical aspects of symmetries, Nordita; KITS-ShanghaiTech Summer School; Prospects in Theoretical Physics, IAS; Croucher Summer Course, Hong Kong.

Presentations

  • Apr 2026 - Noninvertible symmetry protected topological phases on lattice, University of Science and Technology of China.
  • Feb 2026 - Noninvertible symmetry protected topological phases on lattice, RIKEN, Japan.
  • 2025 - Seminar talks at New York University, IAS, Caltech, Nanjing University, IPMU, Ghent University, SIMIS, Westlake University, and Hangzhou Institute of Advanced Study.
  • 2024 - Seminar talks at SIMIS, Peking University, KITS, Xiamen University, Nanjing University, SEUYC, Soochow University, BIMSA, and IAS.
  • 2023 - Seminar talks at Caltech, UC San Diego, Cornell University, Yale University, Princeton University, IAS, DESY, YITP Kyoto, University of Tokyo, and SEUYC.

Contact

Email: njua@outlook.com