arXiv subjects

Chetan Nayak

Publications and source records attributed to Chetan Nayak.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Breakdown of a topological phase: Quantum phase transition in a loop gas model with tension

We study the stability of topological order against local perturbations by considering the effect of a magnetic field on a spin model -- the toric code -- which is in a topological phase. The model can be mapped onto a quantum loop gas where the perturbation introduces a bare loop tension. When the loop tension is small, the topological order survives. When it is large, it drives a continuous quantum phase transition into a magnetic state. The transition can be understood as the condensation of `magnetic' vortices, leading to confinement of the elementary `charge' excitations. We also show how the topological order breaks down when the system is coupled to an Ohmic heat bath and discuss our results in the context of quantum computation applications.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2006

Edge states and tunneling of non-Abelian quasiparticles in the nu=5/2 quantum Hall state and p+ip superconductors

We study quasiparticle tunneling between the edges of a non-Abelian topological state. The simplest examples are a p+ip superconductor and the Moore-Read Pfaffian non-Abelian fractional quantum Hall state; the latter state may have been observed at Landau-level filling fraction nu=5/2. Formulating the problem is conceptually and technically non-trivial: edge quasiparticle correlation functions are elements of a vector space, and transform into each other as the quasiparticle coordinates are braided. We show in general how to resolve this difficulty and uniquely define the quasiparticle tunneling Hamiltonian. The tunneling operators in the simplest examples can then be rewritten in terms of a free boson. One key consequence of this bosonization is an emergent spin-1/2 degree of freedom. We show that vortex tunneling across a p+ip superconductor is equivalent to the single-channel Kondo problem, while quasiparticle tunneling across the Moore-Read state is analogous to the two-channel Kondo effect. Temperature and voltage dependences of the tunneling conductivity are given in the low- and high-temperature limits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Quantum Computation Using Vortices and Majorana Zero Modes of a $p_x$ + $ip_y$ Superfluid of Fermionic Cold Atoms

We propose to use the recently predicted two-dimensional `weak-pairing' $p_x + ip_y$ superfluid state of fermionic cold atoms as a platform for topological quantum computation. In the core of a vortex, this state supports a zero-energy Majorana mode, which moves to finite energy in the corresponding topologically trivial `strong-pairing' state. By braiding vortices in the `weak-pairing' state, unitary quantum gates can be applied to the Hilbert space of Majorana zero-modes. For read-out of the topological qubits, we propose realistic schemes suitable for atomic superfluids.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Dynamical Disentanglement across a Point Contact in a Non-Abelian Quantum Hall State

We analyze tunneling of non-Abelian quasiparticles between the edges of a quantum Hall droplet at Landau level filling fraction nu=5/2, assuming that the electrons in the first excited Landau level organize themselves in the non-Abelian Moore-Read Pfaffian state. We formulate a bosonized theory of the modes at the two edges of a Hall bar; an effective spin-1/2 degree of freedom emerges in the description of a point contact. We show how the crossover from the high-temperature regime of weak quasiparticle tunneling between the edges of the droplet, with 4-terminal R_{xx} scaling as T^{-3/2}, to the low-temperature limit, with R_{xx} - h/(10 e^2) scaling as -T^4, is closely related to the two-channel Kondo effect. We give a physical interpretation for the entropy of \ln(2\sqrt{2}) which is lost in the flow from the ultraviolet to the infrared.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

The effects of non-abelian statistics on two-terminal shot noise in a quantum Hall liquid in the Pfaffian state

We study non-equilibrium noise in the tunnelling current between the edges of a quantum Hall liquid in the Pfaffian state, which is a strong candidate for the plateau at $ν=5/2$. To first non-vanishing order in perturbation theory (in the tunneling amplitude) we find that one can extract the value of the fractional charge of the tunnelling quasiparticles. We note however that no direct information about non-abelian statistics can be retrieved at this level. If we go to higher-order in the perturbative calculation of the non-equilibrium shot noise, we find effects due to non-Abelian statistics. They are subtle, but eventually may have an experimental signature on the frequency dependent shot noise. We suggest how multi-terminal noise measurements might yield a more dramatic signature of non-Abelian statistics and develop some of the relevant formalism.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Incommensurate DDW order

We consider various incommensurate (IC) order parameters for electrons on a square lattice which reduce to $d_{x^2-y^2}$-density wave (DDW) order when the ordering wavevector ${\bf Q}\to (π,π)$. We describe the associated charge and current distributions and their experimental signatures. Such orders can arise at the mean-field level in extended Hubbard models. We compare the phase diagrams of these models with experiments in the underdoped cuprates, where (1) DDW order is a possible explanation of the pseudogap, and (2) there are experimental indications of incommensurability. We find various types of IC DDW and discuss their possible relevance to the physics of the cuprates. Our main finding is that IC DDW order is generally accompanied by superconducting order, but the magnitude of the IC wavevector can be small. A comparison with the analogous AF-ICSDW transition is given.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Universal manifold pairings and positivity

Gluing two manifolds M_1 and M_2 with a common boundary S yields a closed manifold M. Extending to formal linear combinations x=Sum_i(a_i M_i) yields a sesquilinear pairing p=<,> with values in (formal linear combinations of) closed manifolds. Topological quantum field theory (TQFT) represents this universal pairing p onto a finite dimensional quotient pairing q with values in C which in physically motivated cases is positive definite. To see if such a "unitary" TQFT can potentially detect any nontrivial x, we ask if is non-zero whenever x is non-zero. If this is the case, we call the pairing p positive. The question arises for each dimension d=0,1,2,.... We find p(d) positive for d=0,1, and 2 and not positive for d=4. We conjecture that p(3) is also positive. Similar questions may be phrased for (manifold, submanifold) pairs and manifolds with other additional structure. The results in dimension 4 imply that unitary TQFTs cannot distinguish homotopy equivalent simply connected 4-manifolds, nor can they distinguish smoothly s-cobordant 4-manifolds. This may illuminate the difficulties that have been met by several authors in their attempts to formulate unitary TQFTs for d=3+1. There is a further physical implication of this paper. Whereas 3-dimensional Chern-Simons theory appears to be well-encoded within 2-dimensional quantum physics, eg in the fractional quantum Hall effect, Donaldson-Seiberg-Witten theory cannot be captured by a 3-dimensional quantum system. The positivity of the physical Hilbert spaces means they cannot see null vectors of the universal pairing; such vectors must map to zero.

math.GT↗

arXiv2005

Tilted Interferometry Realizes Universal Quantum Computation in the Ising TQFT without Overpasses

We show how a universal gate set for topological quantum computation in the Ising TQFT, the non-Abelian sector of the putative effective field theory of the $ν=5/2$ fractional quantum Hall state, can be implemented. This implementation does not require overpasses or surgery, unlike the construction of Bravyi and Kitaev, which we take as a starting point. However, it requires measurements of the topological charge around time-like loops encircling moving quasiaparticles, which require the ability to perform `tilted' interferometry measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Towards Universal Topological Quantum Computation in the $ν=5/2$ Fractional Quantum Hall State

The Pfaffian state, which may describe the quantized Hall plateau observed at Landau level filling fraction $ν= 5/2$, can support topologically-protected qubits with extremely low error rates. Braiding operations also allow perfect implementation of certain unitary transformations of these qubits. However, in the case of the Pfaffian state, this set of unitary operations is not quite sufficient for universal quantum computation (i.e. is not dense in the unitary group). If some topologically unprotected operations are also used, then the Pfaffian state supports universal quantum computation, albeit with some operations which require error correction. On the other hand, if certain topology-changing operations can be implemented, then fully topologically-protected universal quantum computation is possible. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to measure the interference between quasiparticle trajectories which encircle other moving trajectories in a time-dependent Hall droplet geometry.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Proposal to stabilize and detect half-quantum vortices in strontium ruthenate thin films: Non-Abelian braiding statistics of vortex matter in a ${p_x}+i{p_y}$ superconductor

We propose a simple way to stabilize half-quantum vortices in superconducting strontium ruthenate, assuming the order parameter is of chiral $p_x + ip_y$ symmetry, as is suggested by recent experiments. The method, first given by Salomaa and Volovik in the context of Helium-3, is very naturally suited for strontium ruthenate, which has a layered, quasi-two-dimensional, perovskite crystal structure. We propose possible experiments to detect their non abelian-braiding statistics. These experiments are of potential importance for topological quantum computation.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

No sliding in time

In this letter, we analyse the following apparent paradox: As has been recently proved by Hastings (cond-mat/0305505), under a general set of conditions, if a local Hamiltonian has a spectral gap above its (unique) ground state (GS), all connected equal-time correlation functions of local operators decay exponentially with distance. On the other hand, statistical mechanics provides us with examples of 3D models displaying so-called sliding phases (O'Hern et al., cond-mat/9904415) which are characterised by the algebraic decay of correlations within 2D layers and exponential decay in the third direction. Interpreting this third direction as time would imply a gap in the corresponding (2+1)D quantum Hamiltonian which would seemingly contradict Hastings' theorem. The resolution of this paradox lies in the non-locality of such a quantum Hamiltonian.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Downward shift of infrared conductivity spectral weight at the DDW transition: role of anisotropy

We consider the motion of conductivity spectral weight at a finite-temperature phase transition at which $d_{x^2-y^2}$ density-wave (DDW) order develops. We show that there is a shift of spectral weight to higher frequencies if the quasiparticle lifetime is assumed to be isotropic, but a shift to lower frequencies if the quasiparticle lifetime is assumed to be anisotropic. We suggest that this is consistent with recent experiments on the pseudogap phase of the cuprate superconductors and, therefore, conclude that the observation of a downward shift in the spectral weight at the pseudogap temperature does not militate against the DDW theory of the pseudogap.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Ferromagnetism of Weakly-Interacting Electrons in Disordered Systems

It was realized two decades ago that the two-dimensional diffusive Fermi liquid phase is unstable against arbitrarily weak electron-electron interactions. Recently, using the nonlinear sigma model developed by Finkelstein, several authors have shown that the instability leads to a ferromagnetic state. In this paper, we consider diffusing electrons interacting through a ferromagnetic exchange interaction. Using the Hartree-Fock approximation to directly calculate the electron self energy, we find that the total energy is minimized by a finite ferromagnetic moment for arbitrarily weak interactions in two dimensions and for interaction strengths exceeding a critical proportional to the conductivity in three dimensions. We discuss the relation between our results and previous ones.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2004

Topologically-Protected Qubits from a Possible Non-Abelian Fractional Quantum Hall State

The Pfaffian state is an attractive candidate for the observed quantized Hall plateau at Landau level filling fraction $ν=5/2$. This is particularly intriguing because this state has unusual topological properties, including quasiparticle excitations with non-Abelian braiding statistics. In order to determine the nature of the $ν=5/2$ state, one must measure the quasiparticle braiding statistics. Here, we propose an experiment which can simultaneously determine the braiding statistics of quasiparticle excitations and, if they prove to be non-Abelian, produce a topologically-protected qubit on which a logical NOT operation is performed by quasiparticle braiding. Using the measured excitation gap at $ν=5/2$, we estimate the error rate to be $10^{-30}$ or lower.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

An extended Hubbard model with ring exchange: a route to a non-Abelian topological phase

We propose an extended Hubbard model on a 2D Kagome lattice with an additional ring-exchange term. The particles can be either bosons or spinless fermions . At a special filling fraction of 1/6 the model is analyzed in the lowest non-vanishing order of perturbation theory. Such ``undoped'' model is closely related to the Quantum Dimer Model. We show how to arrive at an exactly soluble point whose ground state manifold is the extensively degenerate ``d-isotopy space'', a necessary precondition for for a certain type of non-Abelian topological order. Near the ``special'' values, $d = 2 \cos π/(k+2)$, this space is expected to collapse to a stable topological phase with anyonic excitations closely related to SU(2) Chern-Simons theory at level k.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

A Line of Critical Points in 2+1 Dimensions: Quantum Critical Loop Gases and Non-Abelian Gauge Theory

We (1) construct a one-parameter family of lattice models of interacting spins; (2) obtain their exact ground states; (3) derive a statistical-mechanical analogy which relates their ground states to O(n) loop gases; (4) show that the models are critical for $d\leq \sqrt{2}$, where $d$ parametrizes the models; (5) note that for the special values $d=2\cos(π/(k+2))$, they are related to doubled level-$k$ SU(2) Chern-Simons theory; (6) conjecture that they are in the universality class of a non-relativistic SU(2) gauge theory; and (7) show that its one-loop $β$-function vanishes for all values of the coupling constant, implying that it is also on a critical line.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Fourier Transformed Scanning Tunneling Peaks in the $d$-density wave phase

In this brief note we repeat an earlier calculation of the Fourier transformed scanning tunneling spectra of the $d$-density wave (DDW) phase using a different band structure, which is more realistic and consistent with the angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data. We note that four peaks, which used to be located at $(\pm π/4,0)$ and $(0, \pm π/4)$, are still present, but at positive energies their wavevectors shift to the neighborhood of $(\pm 2 π/5,0)$, $(0, \pm 2π/5)$ and slowly disperse with energy. The implications for the sensitivity with respect to the band structure are discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Infrared Hall angle in the $d$-density wave state: a comparison of theory and experiment

Infrared Hall measurements in the pseudogap phase of the high-$T_c$ cuprates are addressed within the framework of the ordered $d$-density wave state. The zero-temperature Hall frequency $ω_H$ is computed as a function of the hole-doping $x$. Our results are consistent with recent experiments in absolute units. We also discuss the signature of the quantum critical point in the Hall frequency at a critical doping inside the superconducting dome, which can be tested in future experiments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗