The simplest topologically ordered phase in 2+1D is the deconfined phase of $Z_2$ gauge theory, realized for example in the toric code. This phase permits a duality that exchanges electric and magnetic excitations (``$e$'' and ``$m$'' particles). Condensing either particle while the other remains gapped yields a phase transition with 3D Ising exponents. More mysterious, however, is the transition out of the deconfined phase when self-duality symmetry is preserved. If this transition is continuous, which has so far been unclear, then it may be the simplest critical point for which we still lack any useful continuum Lagrangian description. This transition also has a soft matter interpretation, as a multicritical point for classical membranes in 3D.
We study the self-dual transition with Monte Carlo simulations of the $Z_2$ gauge-Higgs model on cubic lattices of linear size $L\leq 96$. Our results indicate a continuous transition: for example, cumulants show a striking parameter-free scaling collapse. We estimate scaling dimensions by using duality symmetry to distinguish the leading duality-odd/duality-even scaling operators $A$ and $S$. All local operators have large scaling dimensions, making standard techniques for locating the critical point ineffective. We develop an alternative using ``renormalization group trajectories'' of cumulants. We check that two- and three-point functions, and temporal correlators in the Monte-Carlo dynamics, are scale-invariant, with scaling dimensions $x_A$ and $x_S$ and dynamical exponent $z$.
We also give a picture for emergence of 1-form symmetries, in some parts of the phase diagram, in terms of ``patching'' of membranes/worldsurfaces. We relate this to the percolation of anyon worldlines in spacetime. Analyzing percolation yields a fourth exponent for the self-dual transition. We propose variations of the model for further investigation.
Duality places an important constraint on the renormalization group flows and the phase diagrams. For self-dual theories, the self-duality can be promoted as a symmetry, this leads to the multi-criticalities. This work investigates a description of the deconfined quantum criticality, the $N_f=2$ QED$_3$, as an example of self-dual theories and its multi-critical behavior under perturbative deformations. The multi-criticality is described by the theory with Gross-Neveu couplings and falls in a different universality class than the standard deconfined quantum criticality. We systematically calcu…
In quantum spin-1 chains, there is a nonlocal unitary transformation known as the Kennedy-Tasaki transformation $U_{\text{KT}}$, which defines a duality between the Haldane phase and the $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry-breaking phase. In this paper, we find that $U_{\text{KT}}$ also defines a duality between a topological Ising critical phase and a trivial Ising critical phase, which provides a "hidden symmetry breaking" interpretation for the topological criticality. Moreover, since the duality relates different phases of matter, we argue that a model with self-duality (i.e., inva…
In this work, we study quantum many-body systems which are self-dual under duality transformation connecting different symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases. We provide a geometric explanation of the criticality of these self-dual models. More precisely, we show a ground state (quasi-)degeneracy under the periodic boundary conditions,i.e., the ingappability of the bulk spectrum. Equivalently, the symmetry group at criticality, including the duality symmetry, has a mixed 't Hooft anomaly. This approach can not only predict the spectrum of the self-dual model with ordinary 0-form symmetry,…
Several recent works on quantum criticality beyond the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson paradigm have led to a number of field theories, potentially important for certain two-dimensional magnetic insulating systems, where criticality is not very well understood. This situation highlights the need for non-perturbative information about criticality in two spatial dimensions (three space-time dimensions), which is a longstanding challenge. As a step toward addressing these issues, we present evidence that the O(4) vector model is dual to a theory of Dirac fermions coupled to both SU(2) and U(1) gauge field…
Emergent symmetry is one of the characteristic phenomena in deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP). As its nonequilibrium generalization, the dual dynamic scaling was recently discovered in the nonequilibrium imaginary-time relaxation dynamics in the DQCP of the $J$-$Q_3$ model. In this work, we study the nonequilibrium imaginary-time relaxation dynamics in the $J$-$Q_2$ model, which also hosts a DQCP belonging to the same equilibrium universality class. We not only verify the universality of the dual dynamic scaling at the critical point, but also investigate the breakdown and the vestige o…
Gauge-constrained Spinon Complexes Near Deconfined Quantum Criticality
University of Tokyo（东京大学）；Institute of Solid-State Physics, University of Tokyo（东京大学固体物理研究所）；Trans-scale Quantum Science Institute, The University of Tokyo（东京大学跨尺度量子科学研究所）；University of Chongqing（重庆大学）；Department of Physics, University of Chongqing（重庆大学物理学院）
We study the critical properties of the QED$_3$-Gross-Neveu model with $2N$ flavors of two-component Dirac fermions coupled to a massless scalar field and a U(1) gauge field. For $N=1$, this theory has recently been suggested to be dual to the SU(2) noncompact CP$^1$ model that describes the deconfined phase transition between the Neel antiferromagnet and the valence bond solid on the square lattice. For $N=2$, the theory has been proposed as an effective description of a deconfined critical point between chiral and Dirac spin liquid phases, and may potentially be realizable in spin-$1/2$ syst…
We revisit two-dimensional frustrated quantum magnetism from a new perspective, with the aim of exploring new critical points and critical phases. We study easy-plane triangular antiferromagnets using a dual vortex approach, fermionizing the vortices with a Chern-Simons field. Herein we develop this technique for integer-spin systems which generically exhibit a simple paramagnetic phase as well as magnetically-ordered phases with coplanar and collinear spin order. Within the fermionized-vortex approach, we derive a low-energy effective theory containing Dirac fermions with two flavors minimall…
The frustrated Ising model in two dimensions is revisited. The frustration is quantified in terms of the number of non-trivial plaquettes which is invariant under the Nishimori gauge symmetry. The exact ground state energy is calculated using Edmond's algorithm. A novel cluster algorithm is designed which treats gauge equivalent spin glasses on equal footing and allows for efficient simulations near criticality. As a first application, the specific heat near criticality is investigated.
We investigate the critical properties of the three-dimensional (3D) antiferromagnetic RP(N-1}) model, which is characterized by a global O(N) symmetry and a discrete Z_2 gauge symmetry. We perform a field-theoretical analysis using the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson (LGW) approach and a numerical Monte Carlo study. The LGW field-theoretical results are obtained by high-order perturbative analyses of the renormalization-group (RG) flow of the most general Phi^4 theory with the same global symmetry as the model, assuming a gauge-invariant order-parameter field. For N=4 no stable fixed point is found, i…
Quantum information theory and strongly correlated electron systems share a common theme of macroscopic quantum entanglement. In both topological error correction codes and theories of quantum materials (spin liquid, heavy fermion and high-$T_c$ systems) entanglement is implemented by means of an emergent gauge symmetry. Inspired by these connections, we introduce a simple model for fermions moving in the deconfined phase of a $\mathbb Z_2$ gauge theory, by coupling Kitaev's toric code to mobile fermions. This permits us to exactly solve the ground state of this system and map out its phase di…
The QED$_3$-Gross-Neveu model is a (2+1)-dimensional U(1) gauge theory involving Dirac fermions and a critical real scalar field. This theory has recently been argued to represent a dual description of the deconfined quantum critical point between Neel and valence bond solid orders in frustrated quantum magnets. We study the critical behavior of the QED$_3$-Gross-Neveu model by means of an epsilon expansion around the upper critical space-time dimension of $D_c^+=4$ up to the three-loop order. Estimates for critical exponents in 2+1 dimensions are obtained by evaluating the different Pade appr…
Decoherence-induced self-dual criticality in topological states of matter
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)（香港科技大学（广州））；University of Geneva（日内瓦大学）；University of Cologne（科隆大学）；University of California, Santa Barbara（加州大学圣塔芭芭拉分校）
Monte Carlo simulations of the SU(2)-symmetric deconfined critical point action reveal strong violations of scale invariance for the deconfinement transition. We find compelling evidence that the generic runaway renormalization flow of the gauge coupling is to a weak first order transition, similar to the case of U(1)$\times$U(1) symmetry. Our results imply that recent numeric studies of the Nèel antiferromagnet to valence bond solid quantum phase transition in SU(2)-symmetric models were not accurate enough in determining the nature of the transition.
We develop a gauge theory of the critical behavior of the topological excitations-driven Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase transition in the XY model with weak quenched disorder. We find that while in two-dimensions the liquid of topological defects exhibits the BKT critical behavior, the three-dimensional system shows more singular Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman criticality heralding its freezing into a spin glass. Our findings provide insights into the topological origin of spin glass formation.
The generating functions for the gauge theory observables are often represented in terms of the unitary matrix integrals. In this work, the perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of the generic multi-critical unitary matrix models are studied by adopting the integrable operator formalism, and the multi-critical generalization of the Tracy--Widom distribution in the context of random partitions. We obtain the universal results for the multi-critical model in the weak and strong coupling phases. The free energy of the instanton sector in the weak coupling regime, and the genus expansion of th…
The criticality of the low-frequency conductivity for the bilayer quantum Heisenberg model was investigated numerically. The dynamical conductivity (associated with the O$(3)$ symmetry) displays the inductor $σ(ω) =(iωL)^{-1}$ and capacitor $i ωC$ behaviors for the ordered and disordered phases, respectively. Both constants, $C$ and $L$, have the same scaling dimension as that of the reciprocal paramagnetic gap $Δ^{-1}$. Then, there arose a question to fix the set of critical amplitude ratios among them. So far, the O$(2)$ case has been investigated in the context of the boson-vortex duality. …
In this work we numerically study critical phases in translation-invariant $\mathbb{Z}_N$ parafermion chains with both nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor hopping terms. The model can be mapped to a $\mathbb{Z}_N$ spin model with nearest-neighbor couplings via a generalized Jordan-Wigner transformation and translation invariance ensures that the spin model is always self-dual. We first study the low-energy spectrum of chains with only nearest-neighbor coupling, which are mapped onto standard self-dual $\mathbb{Z}_N$ clock models. For $3\leq N\leq 6$ we match the numerical results to the known c…
We study generalizations of the Gross--Witten--Wadia unitary matrix model for the special orthogonal and symplectic groups. We show using a standard Coulomb gas treatment -- employing a path integral formalism for the ungapped phase and resolvent techniques for the gapped phase with one coupling constant -- that in the large $N$ limit, the free energy normalized modulo the square of the gauge group rank is twice the value for the unitary case. Using generalized Cauchy identities for character polynomials, we then demonstrate the universality of this phase transition for an arbitrary number of …
The twofold twist defects in the $D(\mathbb{Z}_k)$ quantum double model (abelian topological phase) carry non-abelian fractional Majorana-like characteristics. We align these twist defects in a line and construct a one dimensional Hamiltonian which only includes the pairwise interaction. For the defect chain with even number of twist defects, it is equivalent to the $\mathbb{Z}_k$ clock model with periodic boundary condition (up to some phase factor for boundary term), while for odd number case, it maps to $\mathbb{Z}_k$ clock model with duality twisted boundary condition. At critical point, f…
