Lieb-Schultz-Mattis Theorem and its generalizations from the Perspective of the Symmetry Protected Topological phase

ORAL

Abstract

We ask whether a local Hamiltonian with a featureless (fully gapped, nondegenerate and symmetric) ground state could exist in certain quantum spin systems. We address this question by mapping the vicinity of certain quantum critical point (or gapless phase) of the d-dimensional spin system under study to the boundary of a (d+1)-dimensional bulk state, and the lattice symmetry of the spin system acts as an on-site symmetry in the field theory that describes both the selected critical point of the spin system, and the corresponding boundary state of the (d+1)-dimensional bulk. If the symmetry action of the field theory is nonanomalous, i.e. the corresponding bulk state is a trivial state instead of a bosonic symmetry protected topological (SPT) state, then a featureless ground state of the spin system is allowed; if the corresponding bulk state is indeed a nontrivial SPT state, then it likely excludes the existence of a featureless ground state of the spin system. From this perspective we identify the spin systems with SU(N) and SO(N) symmetries on one, two and three dimensional lattices that permit a featureless ground state.

Presenters

  • Chao-Ming Jian

    Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, Microsoft Station Q

Authors

  • Chao-Ming Jian

    Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, Microsoft Station Q

  • Zhen Bi

    Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Cenke Xu

    Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara, Univ of California - Santa Barbara, UCSB