Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2008.11206 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

From trivial to topological paramagnets: The case of Z2 and Z23 symmetries in two dimensions

Maxime Dupont, Snir Gazit, Thomas Scaffidi

Published Apr 30, 2021• 28 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Using quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we map out the phase diagram of Hamiltonians interpolating between trivial and nontrivial bosonic symmetry-protected topological phases, protected by ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ and ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}^{3}$ symmetries, in two dimensions. In all cases, we find that the trivial and the topological phases are separated by an intermediate phase in which the protecting symmetry is spontaneously broken. Depending on the model, we identify a variety of magnetic orders on the triangular lattice, including ferromagnetism, $\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3}$ order, and stripe orders (both commensurate and incommensurate). Critical properties are determined through a finite-size scaling analysis. Possible scenarios regarding the nature of the phase transitions are discussed.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.103.144437

Related papers

Building models of topological quantum criticality from pivot Hamiltonians

Nathanan Tantivasadakarn, Ryan Thorngren, Ashvin Vishwanath +1 more

Progress in understanding symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases has been greatly aided by our ability to construct lattice models realizing these states. In contrast, a systematic approach to constructing models that realize quantum critical points between SPT phases is lacking, particularly in dimension d>1 d > 1 . Here, we show how the recently introduced notion of the pivot Hamiltonian—generating rotations between SPT phases—facilitates such a construction. We demonstrate this approach by constructing a spin model on the triangular lattice, which is midway between a trivial and SPT phase. The pivot Hamiltonian generates a U(1) U ( 1 ) pivot symmetry which helps to stabilize a direct SPT transition. The sign-problem free nature of the model—with an additional Ising interaction preserving the pivot symmetry—allows us to obtain the phase diagram using quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We find evidence for a direct transition between trivial and SPT phases that is consistent with a deconfined quantum critical point with emergent SO(5) S O ( 5 ) symmetry. The known anomaly of the latter is made possible by the non-local nature of the U(1) U ( 1 ) pivot symmetry. Interestingly, the pivot Hamiltonian generating this symmetry is nothing other than the staggered Baxter-Wu three-spin interaction. This work illustrates the importance of U(1) U ( 1 ) pivot symmetries and proposes how to generally construct sign-problem-free lattice models of SPT transitions with such anomalous symmetry groups for other lattices and dimensions.

arXiv:2110.09512•SciPost Physics•Feb 2, 2023•32 citations

Symmetry-protected topological phases in one-dimensional systems

Frank Pollmann

Abstract Classifying and understanding phases of matter is an important task in condensed matter physics. The class of ‘conventional’ symmetry-broken phases is well understood in terms of Landau’s theory. A paradigmatic example is the Z2-symmetric Ising model with symmetric (paramagnetic) and symmetry-broken (ferromagnet) phases, which can be distinguished by measuring the magnetization as a local order parameter. Topological phases of matter, however, are less understood and no complete classification is known. These lecture notes discuss schemes that provide an understanding and characterization of certain topological phases of matter in models with local Hamiltonians. The main focus is on symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in one-dimensional bosonic systems. On the basis of the entanglement properties of such systems, a motivation is given for the matrix product state (MPS) representation of ground states. Using the MPS framework, it is demonstrated how SPT phases can be classified using projective representations of the symmetries.

•Jan 26, 2017•46 citations

Z3 and (×Z3)3 symmetry protected topological paramagnets

Hrant Topchyan, Vasilii Iugov, Mkhitar Mirumyan +3 more

Abstract We identify two-dimensional three-state Potts paramagnets with gapless edge modes on a triangular lattice protected by (×Z3)3 ≡ Z3 × Z3 × Z3 symmetry and smaller Z3 symmetry. We derive microscopic models for the gapless edge, uncover their symmetries and analyze the conformal properties. We study the properties of the gapless edge by employing the numerical density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) simulation and exact diagonalization. We discuss the corresponding conformal field theory, its central charge, and the scaling dimension of the corresponding primary field. We argue, that the low energy limit of our edge modes defined by the SUk(3)/SUk(2) coset conformal field theory with the level k = 2. The discussed two-dimensional models realize a variety of symmetry-protected topological phases, opening a window for studies of the unconventional quantum criticalities between them.

arXiv:2210.01187•Journal of High Energy Physics•Dec 29, 2023•6 citations

Z2 topological order and first-order quantum phase transitions in systems with combinatorial gauge symmetry

Kai-Hsin Wu, Zhi-Cheng Yang, Dmitry Green +2 more

We study a generalization of the two-dimensional transverse-field Ising model, combining both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic two-body interactions, that hosts exact global and local ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ gauge symmetries. Using exact diagonalization and stochastic series expansion quantum Monte Carlo methods, we confirm the existence of the topological phase in line with previous theoretical predictions. Our simulation results show that the transition between the confined topological phase and the deconfined paramagnetic phase is of first order, in contrast to the conventional ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ lattice gauge model in which the transition maps onto that of the standard Ising model and is continuous. We further generalize the model by replacing the transverse field on the gauge spins with a ferromagnetic $XX$ interaction while keeping the local gauge symmetry intact. We find that the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ topological phase remains stable, while the paramagnetic phase is replaced by a ferromagnetic phase. The topological-ferromagnetic quantum phase transition is also of first order. For both models, we discuss the low-energy spinon and vison excitations of the topological phase and their avoided level crossings associated with the first-order quantum phase transitions.

arXiv:2103.16625•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Aug 24, 2021•4 citations

Interplay between Symmetry and Topological Order in Quantum Spin Systems

Hao Song

In this thesis, we study the topological phases of quantum spin systems. One project is to investigate a class of anti-ferromagnetic SU(N) Heisenberg models, describing Mott insulators of fermionic ultra-cold alkaline earth atoms on the three-dimensional simple cubic lattice. Our large-N analysis maps a rich phase diagram. One particularly striking state we found spontaneously breaks lattice rotation symmetry, where the cubic lattice breaks up into bilayers, each of which forms a two-dimensional chiral spin liquid state. In the other projects, we study the phenomenon of symmetry fractionalization on anyons as a tool to characterize two-dimensional symmetry enriched topological phases. In particular, we focus on how crystalline symmetries may fractionalize in gapped Z2 spin liquids. If the system has the symmetry of the square lattice, then there are 2080 symmetry fractionalization patterns possible. With exactly solvable models, we realize 487 of these in strictly two-dimensional systems. In addition, we succeed to understand why the remaining patterns cannot be found in the family of models we construct. Some can only appear on the surface of three-dimensional systems with non-trivial point group symmetry protected topological (pgSPT) order, whose boundary degrees of freedom transform non-locally under the symmetries. We construct a simple toy model to show this anomalous crystalline symmetry fractionalization phenomenon associated with a reflection. Moreover, our approach establishes the connection between the pgSPT phases and the topological phases with on-site symmetries in lower dimensions. This insight is very useful for classification of pgSPT orders in general.

•Jan 1, 2015•2 citations

Characterization of topological phases in the compass ladder model

R Haghshenas, A. Langari, A T Rezakhani

The phase diagram of the quantum compass ladder model is investigated through numerical density matrix renormalization group based on infinite matrix product state algorithm and analytic effective perturbation theory. For this model we obtain two symmetry-protected topological phases, protected by a Z2 × Z2 symmetry, and a topologically-trivial Z2-symmetry-breaking phase. The symmetry-protected topological phases--labeled by symmetry fractionalization--belong to different topological classes, where the complex-conjugate symmetry uniquely distinguishes them. An important result of this classification is that, as revealed by the nature of the Z2-symmetry-breaking phase, the associated quantum phase transitions are accompanied by an explicit symmetry breaking, and thus a local-order parameter conclusively identifies the phase diagram of the underlying model. This is in stark contrast to previous studies which require a non-local string order parameter to distinguish the corresponding quantum phase transitions. We numerically examine our results and show that the local-order parameter is related to the magnetization exponent 0.12 ± 0.01.

arXiv:1509.00207•Journal of Physics Condensed Matter•Mar 29, 2016•1 citation
Using quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we map out the phase diagram of Hamiltonians interpolating between trivial and nontrivial bosonic symmetry-protected topological phases, protected by Z2{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}Z2​ and Z23{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}^{3}Z23​ symmetries, in two dimensions. In all cases, we find that the trivial and the topological phases are separated by an intermediate phase in which the protecting symmetry is spontaneously broken. Depending on the model, we identify a variety of magnetic orders on the triangular lattice, including ferromagnetism, 3\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi3\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3}3​\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi3​ order, and stripe orders (both commensurate and incommensurate). Critical properties are determined through a finite-size scaling analysis. Possible scenarios regarding the nature of the phase transitions are discussed.
Progress in understanding symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases has been greatly aided by our ability to construct lattice models realizing these states. In contrast, a systematic approach to constructing models that realize quantum critical points between SPT phases is lacking, particularly in dimension d>1 d > 1 . Here, we show how the recently introduced notion of the pivot Hamiltonian—generating rotations between SPT phases—facilitates such a construction. We demonstrate this approach by constructing a spin model on the triangular lattice, which is midway between a trivial and SPT phase. The pivot Hamiltonian generates a U(1) U ( 1 ) pivot symmetry which helps to stabilize a direct SPT transition. The sign-problem free nature of the model—with an additional Ising interaction preserving the pivot symmetry—allows us to obtain the phase diagram using quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We find evidence for a direct transition between trivial and SPT phases that is consistent with a deconfined quantum critical point with emergent SO(5) S O ( 5 ) symmetry. The known anomaly of the latter is made possible by the non-local nature of the U(1) U ( 1 ) pivot symmetry. Interestingly, the pivot Hamiltonian generating this symmetry is nothing other than the staggered Baxter-Wu three-spin interaction. This work illustrates the importance of U(1) U ( 1 ) pivot symmetries and proposes how to generally construct sign-problem-free lattice models of SPT transitions with such anomalous symmetry groups for other lattices and dimensions.
Abstract Classifying and understanding phases of matter is an important task in condensed matter physics. The class of ‘conventional’ symmetry-broken phases is well understood in terms of Landau’s theory. A paradigmatic example is the Z2-symmetric Ising model with symmetric (paramagnetic) and symmetry-broken (ferromagnet) phases, which can be distinguished by measuring the magnetization as a local order parameter. Topological phases of matter, however, are less understood and no complete classification is known. These lecture notes discuss schemes that provide an understanding and characterization of certain topological phases of matter in models with local Hamiltonians. The main focus is on symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in one-dimensional bosonic systems. On the basis of the entanglement properties of such systems, a motivation is given for the matrix product state (MPS) representation of ground states. Using the MPS framework, it is demonstrated how SPT phases can be classified using projective representations of the symmetries.
Abstract We identify two-dimensional three-state Potts paramagnets with gapless edge modes on a triangular lattice protected by (×Z3)3 ≡ Z3 × Z3 × Z3 symmetry and smaller Z3 symmetry. We derive microscopic models for the gapless edge, uncover their symmetries and analyze the conformal properties. We study the properties of the gapless edge by employing the numerical density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) simulation and exact diagonalization. We discuss the corresponding conformal field theory, its central charge, and the scaling dimension of the corresponding primary field. We argue, that the low energy limit of our edge modes defined by the SUk(3)/SUk(2) coset conformal field theory with the level k = 2. The discussed two-dimensional models realize a variety of symmetry-protected topological phases, opening a window for studies of the unconventional quantum criticalities between them.
We study a generalization of the two-dimensional transverse-field Ising model, combining both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic two-body interactions, that hosts exact global and local Z2{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}Z2​ gauge symmetries. Using exact diagonalization and stochastic series expansion quantum Monte Carlo methods, we confirm the existence of the topological phase in line with previous theoretical predictions. Our simulation results show that the transition between the confined topological phase and the deconfined paramagnetic phase is of first order, in contrast to the conventional Z2{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}Z2​ lattice gauge model in which the transition maps onto that of the standard Ising model and is continuous. We further generalize the model by replacing the transverse field on the gauge spins with a ferromagnetic XXXXXX interaction while keeping the local gauge symmetry intact. We find that the Z2{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}Z2​ topological phase remains stable, while the paramagnetic phase is replaced by a ferromagnetic phase. The topological-ferromagnetic quantum phase transition is also of first order. For both models, we discuss the low-energy spinon and vison excitations of the topological phase and their avoided level crossings associated with the first-order quantum phase transitions.
In this thesis, we study the topological phases of quantum spin systems. One project is to investigate a class of anti-ferromagnetic SU(N) Heisenberg models, describing Mott insulators of fermionic ultra-cold alkaline earth atoms on the three-dimensional simple cubic lattice. Our large-N analysis maps a rich phase diagram. One particularly striking state we found spontaneously breaks lattice rotation symmetry, where the cubic lattice breaks up into bilayers, each of which forms a two-dimensional chiral spin liquid state. In the other projects, we study the phenomenon of symmetry fractionalization on anyons as a tool to characterize two-dimensional symmetry enriched topological phases. In particular, we focus on how crystalline symmetries may fractionalize in gapped Z2 spin liquids. If the system has the symmetry of the square lattice, then there are 2080 symmetry fractionalization patterns possible. With exactly solvable models, we realize 487 of these in strictly two-dimensional systems. In addition, we succeed to understand why the remaining patterns cannot be found in the family of models we construct. Some can only appear on the surface of three-dimensional systems with non-trivial point group symmetry protected topological (pgSPT) order, whose boundary degrees of freedom transform non-locally under the symmetries. We construct a simple toy model to show this anomalous crystalline symmetry fractionalization phenomenon associated with a reflection. Moreover, our approach establishes the connection between the pgSPT phases and the topological phases with on-site symmetries in lower dimensions. This insight is very useful for classification of pgSPT orders in general.
The phase diagram of the quantum compass ladder model is investigated through numerical density matrix renormalization group based on infinite matrix product state algorithm and analytic effective perturbation theory. For this model we obtain two symmetry-protected topological phases, protected by a Z2 × Z2 symmetry, and a topologically-trivial Z2-symmetry-breaking phase. The symmetry-protected topological phases--labeled by symmetry fractionalization--belong to different topological classes, where the complex-conjugate symmetry uniquely distinguishes them. An important result of this classification is that, as revealed by the nature of the Z2-symmetry-breaking phase, the associated quantum phase transitions are accompanied by an explicit symmetry breaking, and thus a local-order parameter conclusively identifies the phase diagram of the underlying model. This is in stark contrast to previous studies which require a non-local string order parameter to distinguish the corresponding quantum phase transitions. We numerically examine our results and show that the local-order parameter is related to the magnetization exponent 0.12 ± 0.01.