The parts
Ten parts, each with its own rhythm. Each can only stay home or step one rung away. The blue dot shows the chance it has stepped.
The whole
The same system written as one walker on one long ladder. Bars show where the walker is likely to be; the orange mark is its average distance from home.
Sum of the parts0.00
The whole0.00
Gap0.00
t = 0.00
Mismatch (J):
The gap over time
Solid line: the gap, computed exactly. Dashed line: the paper's early-time formula, which only holds near the start.
Sourced · Murugan, Van Aswegen & Van Zyl, arXiv:2610.31394 (preprint, 22 Oct 2026). Kitaev chain, 20 sites (10 parts), μ = Δ = 1, time in units of 1/Δ. Curves recomputed by The Penumbra with an exact Lanczos calculation; early-time formula gap ≈ J²·L·t⁴/16. Schematic.