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Seminars

Fractonic gauge theory dualities of crystals and smectics

by Dr Zhengzheng Zhai (University of Colorado–Boulder)

→ Asia/Shanghai
TDLI Meeting Room 200

TDLI Meeting Room 200
Description
Abstract
I will mainly talk about a new class of exotic quantum liquids first realized in lattice qubit models, called fracton topological order, that is characterized by quasi-particles (charges) with restricted mobility, and in particular, their realization in elasticity and topological defects in quantum crystals and smectics. Motivated by striped correlated quantum matter, and the recently developed duality between elasticity of a two-dimensional (2D) crystal and a gauge theory, we derived a dual coupled U (1) vector gauge theory for a 2D quantum smectic, where the disclination is mapped onto the fractonic charge, that we demonstrate can only move transversely to smectic layers. This smectic gauge theory dual also emerges from a gauge dual of a quantum crystal after a Higgs transition corresponding to a single flavor dipole condensation, analog of an anisotropic quantum melting via dislocation proliferation. Utilizing and generalizing these dualities, we explored the associated phase diagram of U(1) fracton systems based on well-established results of elasticity theory,  and in turn, re-examined phases and melting transitions of a crystal, supersolid, and smectic, using these dual fractonic gauge theory reformulations. For example, the electrostatic limit of these dualities  formulates a melting of a 2D classical crystal / smectic in terms of a higher derivative sine-Gordon model.
Biography

PhD in Physics, Aug. 2015– Dec. 2020, University of Colorado–Boulder, CO, USA. Advisor: Prof. Leo Radzihovsky

BS in Physics, 2010 –2014, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China.

Division
Condensed Matter