Monte Carlo Study of Compact Quantum Electrodynamics with Fermionic Matter: the Parent State of Quantum Phases

ORAL

Abstract

The interplay between lattice gauge theories and fermionic matter accounts for fundamental physical phenomena ranging from the deconfinement of quarks in particle physics to quantum spin liquid with fractionalized anyons and emergent gauge structures in condensed matter physics. Here we show that the problem of compact U(1) lattice gauge theory coupled to fermionic matter in (2+1)D is possible to access via sign-problem-free quantum Monte Carlo simulations. One can hence map out the phase diagram as a function of fermion flavors and the strength of gauge fluctuations. By increasing the coupling constant of the gauge field, gauge confinement in the form of various spontaneous symmetry breaking phases such as valence bond solid (VBS) and Néel antiferromagnet emerge. Deconfined phases with algebraic spin and VBS correlation functions are also observed. Such deconfined phases are an incarnation of exotic states of matter, i.e. the algebraic spin liquid, which is generally viewed as the parent state of various quantum phases. The phase transitions between deconfined and confined phases, as well as that between the different confined phases provide various manifestations of deconfined quantum criticality.

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Presenters

  • Yang Qi

    Department of Physics, Fudan University, Physics, Fudan University, Fudan University, Physics, Fudan Univeristy

Authors

  • Yang Qi

    Department of Physics, Fudan University, Physics, Fudan University, Fudan University, Physics, Fudan Univeristy

  • Xiao Yan Xu

    Department of Physics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Department of Physics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technolog, Department of Physics,, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Long Zhang

    Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • Fakher Assaad

    Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, Physics, Wuerzburg University, Universitat Wurzburg

  • Cenke Xu

    Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Physics, UC Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Zi Yang Meng

    Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Institute of physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, CAS, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Science