We present a numerical quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method for simulating the 3D phase transition on the recently proposed fuzzy sphere [Phys. Rev. X 13, 021009 (2023)]. By introducing an additional SU(2) layer degree of freedom, we reformulate the model into a form suitable for sign-problem-free QMC simulation. From the finite-size-scaling, we show that this QMC-friendly model undergoes a quantum phase transition belonging to the 3D Ising universality class, and at the critical point we compute the scaling dimensions from the state-operator correspondence, which largely agrees with the prediction from the conformal field theory. These results pave the way to construct sign-problem-free models for QMC simulations on the fuzzy sphere, which could advance the future study on more sophisticated criticalities.
We present a numerical quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method for simulating the 3D phase transition on the recently proposed fuzzy sphere [Phys. Rev. X 13, 021009 (2023)]. By introducing an additional SU(2) layer degree of freedom, we reformulate the model into a form suitable for sign-problem-free QMC simulation. From the finite-size-scaling, we show that this QMC-friendly model undergoes a quantum phase transition belonging to the 3D Ising universality class, and at the critical point we compute the scaling dimensions from the state-operator correspondence, which largely agrees with the prediction from the conformal field theory. These results pave the way to construct sign-problem-free models for QMC simulations on the fuzzy sphere, which could advance the future study on more sophisticated criticalities.
Conformal field theory (CFT) offers a modern viewpoint for understanding phase transitions. However, directly accessing the conformal algebra and microscopically uncovering the emergent conformal symmetry, especially in higher dimensions, remains a significant challenge. Motivated by recent advances in revealing CFT features via the fuzzy two-sphere, here we generalize this approach to higher dimensions and aim to expose the conformality at the (3+1)-D quantum critical point. We demonstrate this framework by investigating quantum phase transitions belonging to the Ising and Yang-Lee universality classes in a (3+1)-D quantum model (equivalent to a classical four-dimensional system), realized via Landau level projection on the fuzzy three-sphere. By computing the energy spectra at criticality, we explicitly verify the state-operator correspondence, a hallmark of conformal invariance. Together with prior advances, this work establishes a new pathway for the microscopic study of emergent conformality in higher-dimensional phase transitions.
We revisit the problem of \textit{real-time} quantum dynamics of the paradigmatic two dimensional transverse-field Ising model using the recently developed fuzzy sphere regularization scheme. By linearly ramping the transverse field from the paramagnetic phase to criticality, we study the finite-time scaling behavior of the squared order parameter ⟨mz2⟩, the excitation energy density Q, and the two-point correlation function of mz. We establish numerically that, at intermediate quench rate, ⟨mz2⟩ follows the conventional Kibble-Zurek prediction set by the critical exponents of the 3D Ising universality class, and the correlation function exhibits the expected exponential decay whose correlation length can be used to estimate the non-universal scaling coefficient in the freeze-out time/length. In contrast, the excitation energy density Q does not reach the same scaling regime at available system sizes due to large effective finite-size gap from symmetry-enforced level sparsity in the energy spectrum. At slow quench rates the universal quasi-adiabatic scaling for both ⟨mz2⟩ and Q is recovered. Since the fuzzy sphere construction can realize not only the Ising conformal field theory (CFT), but a broad family of (2+1)d CFTs, our results establish a route to the real-time critical dynamics of strongly coupled CFTs that are otherwise computationally challenging to study.
Numerical studies of phase transitions in statistical and quantum lattice models provide crucial insights into the corresponding Conformal Field Theories (CFTs). In higher dimensions, comparing finite-volume numerical results to infinite-volume CFT data is facilitated by choosing the sphere S^{d-1} S d − 1 as the spatial manifold. Recently, the fuzzy sphere regulator [Zhu et al, Phys. Rev. X 13, 021009 (2023)] has enabled such studies with exact rotational invariance, yielding impressive agreement with known 3D Ising CFT predictions, as well as new results. However, systematic improvements and a deeper understanding of finite-size corrections remain essential. In this work, we revisit the fuzzy sphere regulator, focusing on the original Ising model, with two main goals. First, we assess the robustness of this approach using Conformal Perturbation Theory (CPT), to which we provide a detailed guidebook. We demonstrate how CPT provides a unified framework for determining the critical point, the speed of light, and residual deviations from CFT predictions. Applying this framework, we study finite-size corrections and clarify the role of tuning the model in minimizing these effects. Second, we develop a novel method for extracting Operator Product Expansion (OPE) coefficients from fuzzy sphere data. This method leverages the sensitivity of energy levels to detuning from criticality, providing new insights into level mixing and avoided crossings in finite systems. Our work also includes validation of CPT in a 1+1D Ising model away from the integrable limit.
The 3D Ising transition, the most celebrated and unsolved critical phenomenon in nature, has long been conjectured to have emergent conformal symmetry, similar to the case of the 2D Ising transition.Yet, the emergence of conformal invariance in the 3D Ising transition has rarely been explored directly, mainly due to unavoidable mathematical or conceptual obstructions.Here, we design an innovative way to study the quantum version of the 3D Ising phase transition on spherical geometry, using the "fuzzy (noncommutative) sphere" regularization.We accurately calculate and analyze the energy spectra at the transition, and explicitly demonstrate the state-operator correspondence (i.e., radial quantization), a fingerprint of conformal field theory.In particular, we identify13 parity-even primary operators within a high accuracy and two parity-odd operators that were not known before.Our result directly elucidates the emergent conformal symmetry of the 3D Ising transition, a conjecture made by Polyakov half a century ago.More importantly, our approach opens a new avenue for studying 3D conformal field theories by making use of the state-operator correspondence and spherical geometry.
The Potts model describes interacting spins with Q different components, which is a direct generalization of the Ising model (Q=2). Compared to the existing exact solutions in 2D, the phase transitions and critical phenomena in the 3D Potts model have been less explored. Here, we systematically investigate a quantum (2+1)-D Potts model with Q=3 using a fuzzy sphere regularization scheme. We first construct a microscopic model capable of achieving a magnetic phase transition that separates a spin S3 permutationally symmetric paramagnet and a spontaneous symmetry-breaking ferromagnet. Importantly, the energy spectrum at the phase transition point exhibits an approximately conformal symmetry, implying that an underlying conformal field theory may govern this transition. Moreover, when tuning along the phase transition line in the mapped phase diagram, we find that the dimension of the subleading S3 singlet operator flows and drifts around the critical value ∼3, which is believed to be crucial for understanding this phase transition, although determining its precise value remains challenging due to the limitations of our finite-size calculations. These findings suggest a discontinuous transition in the 3D 3-state Potts model, characterized by pseudo-critical behavior, which we argue results from a nearby multicritical or complex fixed point.
Reliable simulations of correlated quantum systems, including high-temperature superconductors and frustrated magnets, are increasingly desired nowadays to further our understanding of essential features in such systems. Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) is a unique numerically exact and intrinsically unbiased method to simulate interacting quantum many-body systems. More importantly, when QMC simulations are free from the notorious fermion sign problem, they can reliably simulate interacting quantum models with large system size and low temperature to reveal low-energy physics such as spontaneously broken symmetries and universal quantum critical behaviors. Here, we concisely review recent progress made in developing new sign-problem-free QMC algorithms, including those employing Majorana representation and those utilizing hot-spot physics. We also discuss applications of these novel sign-problem-free QMC algorithms in simulations of various interesting quantum many-body models. Finally, we discuss possible future directions of designing sign-problem-free QMC methods.