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:2211.09073 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Geometric cumulants associated with adiabatic cycles crossing degeneracy points: Application to finite size scaling of metal-insulator transitions in crystalline electronic systems

Balázs Hetényi, Sertaç Cengiz

Published Nov 28, 2022• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In this work, we focus on two questions. One, we complement the machinery to calculate geometric phases along adiabatic cycles as follows. The geometric phase is a line integral along an adiabatic cycle and if the cycle encircles a degeneracy point, the phase becomes nontrivial. If the cycle crosses the degeneracy point, the phase diverges. We construct quantities which are well defined when the path crosses the degeneracy point. We do this by constructing a generalized Bargmann invariant and noting that it can be interpreted as a cumulant generating function, with the geometric phase being the first cumulant. We show that particular ratios of cumulants remain finite for cycles crossing a set of isolated degeneracy points. The cumulant ratios take the form of the Binder cumulants known from the theory of finite size scaling in statistical mechanics (we name them geometric Binder cumulants). Two, we show that the developed machinery can be applied to perform finite size scaling in the context of the modern theory of polarization. The geometric Binder cumulants are size independent at gap-closure points or regions with closed gap (Luttinger liquid). We demonstrate this by model calculations for a one-dimensional topological model, several two-dimensional models, and a one-dimensional correlated model. In the case of two dimensions, we analyze to different situations, one in which the Fermi surface is one dimensional (a line) and two cases in which it is zero dimensional (Dirac points). For the geometric Binder cumulants, the gap-closure points can be found by one-dimensional scaling even in two dimensions. As a technical point, we stress that only certain finite difference approximations for the cumulants are applicable since not all approximation schemes are capable of extracting the size scaling information in the case of a closed-gap system.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.106.195151

Related papers

From generating functions to the geometric Binder cumulant

Balázs Hetényi

We present an overview of the role of generating functions in quantum mechanical contexts, mainly in the modern theory of polarization and in the study of quantum phase transitions. Generating functions enable the derivation of moments and cumulants, quantities which characterize the fluctuations of an underlying probability distribution. In all of the cases we review, the fluctuations are those of a quantum system. We show that the original formalism for geometric phases, in which a quantum system is taken around an adiabatic cycle, can be extended to the case when degeneracy points are encountered along the cycle (quasiadiabatic cycles). The essential tool for this extension is a generalized Bargmann invariant which plays the role of a generating function. From the cumulants generated this way one can form ratios according to the Binder cumulant scheme in statistical mechanics. Such geometric Binder cumulants are sensitive to gap closure, as such, they are useful in identifying metal-insulator transitions, localization, and quantum phase transitions. We present example calculations on simple model systems, whose localization properties are well known, to validate to approach. We also complement our geometric Binder cumulant calculations with results for the fidelity susceptibility, a quantity directly related to the quantum geometry of the parameter space.

quant-pharXiv:2604.06147•Journal of Physics Condensed Matter•Apr 8, 2026•0 citations

Quantum phase transitions from analysis of the polarization amplitude

Balázs Hetényi, Balázs Dóra

In the modern theory of polarization, polarization itself is given by a geometric phase. In calculations for interacting systems the polarization and its variance are obtained from the polarization amplitude. We interpret this quantity as a discretized characteristic function and derive formulas for its cumulants and moments. In the case of a noninteracting system, our scheme leads to the gauge-invariant cumulants known from polarization theory. We study the behavior of such cumulants for several interacting models. In a one-dimensional system of spinless fermions with nearest neighbor interaction the transition at which gap closure occurs can be clearly identified from the finite size scaling exponent of the variance. When next nearest neighbor interactions are turned on a model with a richer phase diagram emerges, but the finite size scaling exponent is still an effective way to identify the localization transition.

arXiv:1810.10878•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Feb 15, 2019•22 citations

Disorder averaging in random lattice models with periodic boundary conditions: Application to models with uncorrelated and correlated disorder

Balázs Hetényi, Luís Miguel Martelo, András Lászlóffy

Periodic boundary conditions are not always used in the study of disordered systems, but it can be advantageous to apply them to mimick thermodynamically large systems. In this case, polarization and its cumulants can not be obtained directly, but through the tools of the modern theory of polarization. This theory casts the polarization in crystalline systems as a geometric phase, rather than an operator expectation value. We develop disorder averaging techniques within the context of this theory which can calculate the variance of the polarization, its higher order moments, and the excess kurtosis (or Binder cumulant). We also derive an indicator of delocalization based on the degeneracy as a function of boundary conditions. We apply the computational techniques to two model systems. To test localization, we use a one-dimensional disordered model which is fully Anderson localized. Our calculations verify this. We also apply our techniques to the one dimensional de Moura-Lyra model, developed to study power law correlated (controlled by a parameter, $α$) disorder. While this model is a pathological one, our method is validated. We also point out the significance of pairwise degeneracies found in the parameter range, $α>2$ and near the band center (or near half filling), where the model was conjectured to exhibit a mobility edge.

arXiv:2604.06400•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Apr 7, 2026•0 citations

Finite-size scaling and Monte Carlo simulations of first-order phase transitions

Jooyoung Lee, J. Michael Kosterlitz

We develop a detailed finite-size-scaling theory at a general, asymmetric, temperature-driven, strongly first-order phase transition in a system with periodic boundary conditions. We compute scaling functions for various cumulants of energy in the form U(L,t)=${\mathit{U}}_{0}$(${\mathit{tL}}^{\mathit{d}}$)+${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{d}}$${\mathit{U}}_{1}$(${\mathit{tL}}^{\mathit{d}}$) with t=1-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$/T. In particular, we consider the specific heat and Binder's fourth cumulant and show this has a minimum value of 2/3-(${\mathit{e}}_{1}$/${\mathit{e}}_{2}$-${\mathit{e}}_{2}$/${\mathit{e}}_{1}$${)}^{2}$/12+O(${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{d}}$) at a temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}^{(2)}$(L)-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$=O(${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{d}}$). Various other pseudocritical temperatures corresponding to extrema of other cumulants are evaluated. We compare these theoretical predictions with extensive Monte Carlo simulations of the nominally strong first-order transitions in the eight- and ten-state Potts models in two dimensions for system sizes L\ensuremath{\le}50. The ten-state simulations agree with theory in all details in contrast to the eight-state data, and we give estimates for the bulk specific heats at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ using all exactly known analytic results. A criterion is developed to estimate numerically whether or not system sizes used in a simulation of a first-order transition are in the finite-size-scaling regime.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Feb 1, 1991•316 citations

Scaling of the bulk polarization in extended and localized phases of a quasiperiodic model

Balázs Hetényi

We study the finite size scaling of the bulk polarization in a quasiperiodic (Aubry-Andr\'e) model using the geometric analog of the Binder cumulant. As a proof of concept, we show that the geometric Binder cumulant method described here can reproduce the known literature values for the flat and raised cosine distributions, which are the two distributions that occur in the delocalized phase. For the Aubry-Andr\'e model at half-filling, the phase transition point is accurately reproduced. Not only is the correct size scaling exponent of the variance obtained in the extended and the localized phases, but the geometric Binder cumulant undergoes a sign change at the phase transition. We also calculate the state resolved Binder cumulant as a function of disorder strength to gain insight into the mechanism of the localization transition.

arXiv:2408.16876•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Sep 11, 2024•21 citations

Finite-size scaling of directed percolation in the steady state

Hans-Karl Janssen, S. Lübeck, Olaf Stenull

Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding finite-size scaling in equilibrium systems. Here, we study finite-size scaling in nonequilibrium systems at the instance of directed percolation (DP), which has become the paradigm of nonequilibrium phase transitions into absorbing states, above, at, and below the upper critical dimension. We investigate the finite-size scaling behavior of DP analytically and numerically by considering its steady state generated by a homogeneous constant external source on a d-dimensional hypercube of finite edge length L with periodic boundary conditions near the bulk critical point. In particular, we study the order parameter and its higher moments using renormalized field theory. We derive finite-size scaling forms of the moments in a one-loop calculation. Moreover, we introduce and calculate a ratio of the order parameter moments that plays a similar role in the analysis of finite size scaling in absorbing nonequilibrium processes as the famous Binder cumulant in equilibrium systems and that, in particular, provides a signature of the DP universality class. To complement our analytical work, we perform Monte Carlo simulations which confirm our analytical results.

arXiv:0705.1320•Physical Review E•Oct 22, 2007•12 citations
In this work, we focus on two questions. One, we complement the machinery to calculate geometric phases along adiabatic cycles as follows. The geometric phase is a line integral along an adiabatic cycle and if the cycle encircles a degeneracy point, the phase becomes nontrivial. If the cycle crosses the degeneracy point, the phase diverges. We construct quantities which are well defined when the path crosses the degeneracy point. We do this by constructing a generalized Bargmann invariant and noting that it can be interpreted as a cumulant generating function, with the geometric phase being the first cumulant. We show that particular ratios of cumulants remain finite for cycles crossing a set of isolated degeneracy points. The cumulant ratios take the form of the Binder cumulants known from the theory of finite size scaling in statistical mechanics (we name them geometric Binder cumulants). Two, we show that the developed machinery can be applied to perform finite size scaling in the context of the modern theory of polarization. The geometric Binder cumulants are size independent at gap-closure points or regions with closed gap (Luttinger liquid). We demonstrate this by model calculations for a one-dimensional topological model, several two-dimensional models, and a one-dimensional correlated model. In the case of two dimensions, we analyze to different situations, one in which the Fermi surface is one dimensional (a line) and two cases in which it is zero dimensional (Dirac points). For the geometric Binder cumulants, the gap-closure points can be found by one-dimensional scaling even in two dimensions. As a technical point, we stress that only certain finite difference approximations for the cumulants are applicable since not all approximation schemes are capable of extracting the size scaling information in the case of a closed-gap system.
We present an overview of the role of generating functions in quantum mechanical contexts, mainly in the modern theory of polarization and in the study of quantum phase transitions. Generating functions enable the derivation of moments and cumulants, quantities which characterize the fluctuations of an underlying probability distribution. In all of the cases we review, the fluctuations are those of a quantum system. We show that the original formalism for geometric phases, in which a quantum system is taken around an adiabatic cycle, can be extended to the case when degeneracy points are encountered along the cycle (quasiadiabatic cycles). The essential tool for this extension is a generalized Bargmann invariant which plays the role of a generating function. From the cumulants generated this way one can form ratios according to the Binder cumulant scheme in statistical mechanics. Such geometric Binder cumulants are sensitive to gap closure, as such, they are useful in identifying metal-insulator transitions, localization, and quantum phase transitions. We present example calculations on simple model systems, whose localization properties are well known, to validate to approach. We also complement our geometric Binder cumulant calculations with results for the fidelity susceptibility, a quantity directly related to the quantum geometry of the parameter space.
In the modern theory of polarization, polarization itself is given by a geometric phase. In calculations for interacting systems the polarization and its variance are obtained from the polarization amplitude. We interpret this quantity as a discretized characteristic function and derive formulas for its cumulants and moments. In the case of a noninteracting system, our scheme leads to the gauge-invariant cumulants known from polarization theory. We study the behavior of such cumulants for several interacting models. In a one-dimensional system of spinless fermions with nearest neighbor interaction the transition at which gap closure occurs can be clearly identified from the finite size scaling exponent of the variance. When next nearest neighbor interactions are turned on a model with a richer phase diagram emerges, but the finite size scaling exponent is still an effective way to identify the localization transition.
Periodic boundary conditions are not always used in the study of disordered systems, but it can be advantageous to apply them to mimick thermodynamically large systems. In this case, polarization and its cumulants can not be obtained directly, but through the tools of the modern theory of polarization. This theory casts the polarization in crystalline systems as a geometric phase, rather than an operator expectation value. We develop disorder averaging techniques within the context of this theory which can calculate the variance of the polarization, its higher order moments, and the excess kurtosis (or Binder cumulant). We also derive an indicator of delocalization based on the degeneracy as a function of boundary conditions. We apply the computational techniques to two model systems. To test localization, we use a one-dimensional disordered model which is fully Anderson localized. Our calculations verify this. We also apply our techniques to the one dimensional de Moura-Lyra model, developed to study power law correlated (controlled by a parameter, ααα) disorder. While this model is a pathological one, our method is validated. We also point out the significance of pairwise degeneracies found in the parameter range, α>2α>2α>2 and near the band center (or near half filling), where the model was conjectured to exhibit a mobility edge.
We develop a detailed finite-size-scaling theory at a general, asymmetric, temperature-driven, strongly first-order phase transition in a system with periodic boundary conditions. We compute scaling functions for various cumulants of energy in the form U(L,t)=U0{\mathit{U}}_{0}U0​(tLd{\mathit{tL}}^{\mathit{d}}tLd)+${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{d}}$U1{\mathit{U}}_{1}U1​(tLd{\mathit{tL}}^{\mathit{d}}tLd) with t=1-Tc{\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}Tc​/T. In particular, we consider the specific heat and Binder's fourth cumulant and show this has a minimum value of 2/3-(e1{\mathit{e}}_{1}e1​/e2{\mathit{e}}_{2}e2​-e2{\mathit{e}}_{2}e2​/e1{\mathit{e}}_{1}e1​)2{)}^{2})2/12+O(${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{d}}$) at a temperature Tc(2){\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}^{(2)}Tc(2)​(L)-Tc{\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}Tc​=O(${\mathit{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{d}}$). Various other pseudocritical temperatures corresponding to extrema of other cumulants are evaluated. We compare these theoretical predictions with extensive Monte Carlo simulations of the nominally strong first-order transitions in the eight- and ten-state Potts models in two dimensions for system sizes L\ensuremath{\le}50. The ten-state simulations agree with theory in all details in contrast to the eight-state data, and we give estimates for the bulk specific heats at Tc{\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}Tc​ using all exactly known analytic results. A criterion is developed to estimate numerically whether or not system sizes used in a simulation of a first-order transition are in the finite-size-scaling regime.
We study the finite size scaling of the bulk polarization in a quasiperiodic (Aubry-Andr\'e) model using the geometric analog of the Binder cumulant. As a proof of concept, we show that the geometric Binder cumulant method described here can reproduce the known literature values for the flat and raised cosine distributions, which are the two distributions that occur in the delocalized phase. For the Aubry-Andr\'e model at half-filling, the phase transition point is accurately reproduced. Not only is the correct size scaling exponent of the variance obtained in the extended and the localized phases, but the geometric Binder cumulant undergoes a sign change at the phase transition. We also calculate the state resolved Binder cumulant as a function of disorder strength to gain insight into the mechanism of the localization transition.
Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding finite-size scaling in equilibrium systems. Here, we study finite-size scaling in nonequilibrium systems at the instance of directed percolation (DP), which has become the paradigm of nonequilibrium phase transitions into absorbing states, above, at, and below the upper critical dimension. We investigate the finite-size scaling behavior of DP analytically and numerically by considering its steady state generated by a homogeneous constant external source on a d-dimensional hypercube of finite edge length L with periodic boundary conditions near the bulk critical point. In particular, we study the order parameter and its higher moments using renormalized field theory. We derive finite-size scaling forms of the moments in a one-loop calculation. Moreover, we introduce and calculate a ratio of the order parameter moments that plays a similar role in the analysis of finite size scaling in absorbing nonequilibrium processes as the famous Binder cumulant in equilibrium systems and that, in particular, provides a signature of the DP universality class. To complement our analytical work, we perform Monte Carlo simulations which confirm our analytical results.