Under the widely accepted but unproven assumption that the one-dimensional S=1 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model has a unique gapped ground state, we prove that the model belongs to a nontrivial symmetry-protected topological phase. In other words, we rigorously rule out the possibility that the model has a unique gapped ground state that is topologically trivial. To be precise, we assume that the models on open finite chains with a boundary magnetic field have unique ground states with a uniform gap and prove that the ground state of the infinite chain has a nontrivial topological index. This further implies the presence of a gapless edge excitation in the model on the half-infinite chain and the existence of a topological phase transition in the model that interpolates between the Heisenberg chain and the trivial model.Under the widely accepted but unproven assumption that the one-dimensional S=1 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model has a unique gapped ground state, we prove that the model belongs to a nontrivial symmetry-protected topological phase. In other words, we rigorously rule out the possibility that the model has a unique gapped ground state that is topologically trivial. To be precise, we assume that the models on open finite chains with a boundary magnetic field have unique ground states with a uniform gap and prove that the ground state of the infinite chain has a nontrivial topological index. This further implies the presence of a gapless edge excitation in the model on the half-infinite chain and the existence of a topological phase transition in the model that interpolates between the Heisenberg chain and the trivial model.

arXiv:2407.17041Physical Review LettersFeb 19, 20254 citations

First-Order Phase Transitions in One-Dimensional Steady States

Peter F. Arndt, Thomas Heinzel, Vladimir Rittenberg

arXiv:cond-mat/9706114Journal of Statistical PhysicsFeb 1, 199860 citations

On the Ising Phase Transition in the Infrared-Divergent Spin Boson Model

Volker Betz, Hinrichs, Benjamin, Mino Nicola Kraft +1 more

We prove absence of ground states in the infrared-divergent spin boson model at large coupling. Our key argument reduces the proof to verifying long range order in the dual one-dimensional continuum Ising model, i.e., to showing that the respective two point function is lower bounded by a strictly positive constant. We can then use known results from percolation theory to establish long range order at large coupling. Combined with the known existence of ground states at small coupling, our result proves that the spin boson model undergoes a phase transition with respect to the coupling strength. We also present an expansion for the vacuum overlap of the spin boson ground state in terms of the Ising $n$ -point functions, which implies that the phase transition is unique, i.e., that there is a critical coupling constant below which a ground state exists and above which none can exist.We prove absence of ground states in the infrared-divergent spin boson model at large coupling. Our key argument reduces the proof to verifying long range order in the dual one-dimensional continuum Ising model, i.e., to showing that the respective two point function is lower bounded by a strictly positive constant. We can then use known results from percolation theory to establish long range order at large coupling. Combined with the known existence of ground states at small coupling, our result proves that the spin boson model undergoes a phase transition with respect to the coupling strength. We also present an expansion for the vacuum overlap of the spin boson ground state in terms of the Ising $n$-point functions, which implies that the phase transition is unique, i.e., that there is a critical coupling constant below which a ground state exists and above which none can exist.

arXiv:2501.19362Jan 31, 20250 citations

Phase transitions in one dimension and less

Paul Fendley, Oleg Tchernyshyov

arXiv:cond-mat/0202129Nuclear Physics BSep 1, 20023 citations

Rigorous index theory for one-dimensional interacting topological insulators

Hal Tasaki

We present a rigorous but elementary index theory for a class of one-dimensional systems of interacting (and possibly disordered) fermions with U(1)⋊Z2 symmetry defined on the infinite chain. The class includes the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model [Su et al., “Solitons in polyacetylene,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 42, 1698 (1979); Su et al., “Soliton excitations in polyacetylene,” Phys. Rev. B 22, 2099 (1983); and Asbóth et al., A Short Course on Topological Insulators: Band-Structure Topology and Edge States in One and Two Dimensions, Lecture Notes in Physics (Springer, 2016)] as a special case. For any locally unique gapped (fixed-charge) ground state of a model in the class, we define a Z2 index in terms of the sign of the expectation value of the local twist operator. We prove that the index is topological in the sense that it is invariant under continuous modification of models in the class with a locally unique (fixed-charge) gapped ground state. This establishes that any path of models in the class that connects the two extreme cases of the SSH model must go through a phase transition. Our rigorous Z2 classification is believed to be optimal for the class of models considered here. We also show an interesting duality of the index and prove that any topologically nontrivial model in the class has a gapless edge excitation above the ground state when defined on the half-infinite chain. The results extend to other classes of models, including the extended Hubbard model. Our strategy to focus on the expectation value of local unitary operators makes the theory intuitive and conceptually simple. This paper also contains a careful discussion about the notion of unique gapped ground states of a particle system on the infinite chain. (There are two lecture videos in which the main results of this paper are discussed [H. Tasaki, “Rigorous index theory for one-dimensional interacting topological insulators: A brief introduction,” online lecture (21:41), November, 2021, seehttps://www.gakushuin.ac.jp/~881791/OL/#Index1DTI2021S and https://youtu.be/ypGVb3eYrpg and H. Tasaki, “Rigorous index theory for one-dimensional interacting topological insulators: With a pedagogical introduction to the topological phase transition in the SSH model,” online lecture (49:07), November, 2021, see https://www.gakushuin.ac.jp/~881791/OL/#Index1DTI2021L and https://youtu.be/yxZYOevV2Y].We present a rigorous but elementary index theory for a class of one-dimensional systems of interacting (and possibly disordered) fermions with U(1)⋊Z2 symmetry defined on the infinite chain. The class includes the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model [Su et al., “Solitons in polyacetylene,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 42, 1698 (1979); Su et al., “Soliton excitations in polyacetylene,” Phys. Rev. B 22, 2099 (1983); and Asbóth et al., A Short Course on Topological Insulators: Band-Structure Topology and Edge States in One and Two Dimensions, Lecture Notes in Physics (Springer, 2016)] as a special case. For any locally unique gapped (fixed-charge) ground state of a model in the class, we define a Z2 index in terms of the sign of the expectation value of the local twist operator. We prove that the index is topological in the sense that it is invariant under continuous modification of models in the class with a locally unique (fixed-charge) gapped ground state. This establishes that any path of models in the class that connects the two extreme cases of the SSH model must go through a phase transition. Our rigorous Z2 classification is believed to be optimal for the class of models considered here. We also show an interesting duality of the index and prove that any topologically nontrivial model in the class has a gapless edge excitation above the ground state when defined on the half-infinite chain. The results extend to other classes of models, including the extended Hubbard model. Our strategy to focus on the expectation value of local unitary operators makes the theory intuitive and conceptually simple. This paper also contains a careful discussion about the notion of unique gapped ground states of a particle system on the infinite chain. (There are two lecture videos in which the main results of this paper are discussed [H. Tasaki, “Rigorous index theory for one-dimensional interacting topological insulators: A brief introduction,” online lecture (21:41), November, 2021, seehttps://www.gakushuin.ac.jp/~881791/OL/#Index1DTI2021S and https://youtu.be/ypGVb3eYrpg and H. Tasaki, “Rigorous index theory for one-dimensional interacting topological insulators: With a pedagogical introduction to the topological phase transition in the SSH model,” online lecture (49:07), November, 2021, see https://www.gakushuin.ac.jp/~881791/OL/#Index1DTI2021L and https://youtu.be/yxZYOevV2Y].

arXiv:2111.07335Journal of Mathematical PhysicsApr 1, 20239 citations

First-order phase transition in an approximately one-dimensional system

V. N. Bogomolov, E.V. Kolla, Yu. A. Kumzerov

ZhETF Pisma RedaktsiiuJan 1, 19853 citations

n

-point functions, which implies that the phase transition is unique, i.e., that there is a critical coupling constant below which a ground state exists and above which none can exist.