arXiv subjects

G. Ortiz

Publications and source records attributed to G. Ortiz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Bulk-boundary correspondence in three dimensional topological insulators

We discuss the relation between bulk topological invariants and the spectrum of surface states in three dimensional non-interacting topological insulators. By studying particular models, and considering general boundary conditions for the electron wavefunction on the crystal surface, we demonstrate that using experimental techniques that probe surface states, only strong topological and trivial insulating phases can be distinguished; the latter state being equivalent to a weak topological insulator. In a strong topological insulator, only the {\it parity} of the number of surface states, but not the number itself, is robust against time-reversal invariant boundary perturbations. Our results suggest a $\z$ definition of the bulk-boundary correspondence, compatible with the $\z$ classification of topological insulators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Integrable two-channel p_x+ip_y-wave superfluid model

We present a new two-channel integrable model describing a system of spinless fermions interacting through a p-wave Feshbach resonance. Unlike the BCS-BEC crossover of the s-wave case, the p-wave model has a third order quantum phase transition. The critical point coincides with the deconfinement of a single molecule within a BEC of bound dipolar molecules. The exact many-body wavefunction provides a unique perspective of the quantum critical region suggesting that the size of the condensate wavefunction, that diverges logarithmically with the chemical potential, could be used as an experimental indicator of the phase transition.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2010

Superconductivity in strongly repulsive fermions: the role of kinetic-energy frustration

We discuss a physical mechanism of a non-BCS nature which can stabilize a superconducting state in a {\it strongly repulsive} electronic system. By considering the two-dimensional Hubbard model with spatially modulated electron hoppings, we demonstrate how kinetic-energy frustration can lead to robust d-wave superconductivity at {\it arbitrarily} large on-site repulsion. This phenomenon should be observable in experiments using fermionic atoms, e.g. ${}^{40}K$, in specially prepared optical lattices.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Comment on "Quantum phase transition in the four-spin exchange antiferromagnet" by V. N. Kotov, D.-X. Yao, A. H. Castro-Neto, and D. K. Campbell

In a recent paper [Phys. Rev. {\bf B80}, 174403 (2009)] Kotov {\it et al.} studied the paramagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic transition in the $J$-$Q$ model. Their findings were claimed to be in "fairly good agreement" with previous quantum Monte-Carlo (QMC) results. In this Comment we show that the above claim is misleading and in reality their phase transition point is not only far from the corresponding QMC value but also lies in a region of parameter space not yet explored in the literature. We also show that their reference dimer state is unstable against formation of a plaquette condensate, which could in part explain the large fluctuations they found.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Phase diagram of the Heisenberg antiferromagnet with four-spin interactions

We study the quantum phase diagram of the Heisenberg planar antiferromagnet with a subset of four-spin ring exchange interactions, using the recently proposed heirarchical mean-field approach. By identifying relevant degrees of freedom, we are able to use a single variational anzatz to map the entire phase diagram of the model and uncover the nature of its various phases. It is shown that there exists a transition between a Néel state and a quantum paramagnetic phase, characterized by broken translational invariance. The non-magnetic phase preserves the lattice rotational symmetry, and has a correlated plaquette nature. Our results also suggest that this phase transition can be properly described within the Landau paradigm.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Unified approach to Quantum and Classical Dualities

We show how classical and quantum dualities, as well as duality relations that appear only in a sector of certain theories ("emergent dualities"), can be unveiled, and systematically established. Our method relies on the use of morphisms of the "bond algebra" of a quantum Hamiltonian. Dualities are characterized as unitary mappings implementing such morphisms, whose even powers become symmetries of the quantum problem. Dual variables -which were guessed in the past- can be derived in our formalism. We obtain new self-dualities for four-dimensional Abelian gauge field theories.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2009

Local physics of magnetization plateaux in the Shastry-Sutherland model

We address the physical mechanism responsible for the emergence of magnetization plateaux in the Shastry-Sutherland model. By using a hierarchical mean-field approach we demonstrate that a plateau is stabilized in a certain {\it spin pattern}, satisfying {\it local} commensurability conditions derived from our formalism. Our results provide evidence in favor of a robust local physics nature of the plateaux states, and are in agreement with recent NMR experiments on $\scbo$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Field Induced Orbital Antiferromagnetism in Mott Insulators

We report on a new electromagnetic phenomenon that emerges in Mott insulators, i.e., materials that do not conduct electricity because of strong electronic Coulomb repulsion. The phenomenon manifests as antiferromagnetic ordering due to orbital electric currents which are spontaneously generated from the coupling between spin currents and an external homogenous magnetic field. This novel spin-charge current effect provides the mechanism to detect the so far elusive spin currents by means of unpolarized neutron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance or muon spectroscopy. We illustrate this mechanism by solving a half-filled Hubbard model on a frustrated ladder, a simple but nontrivial case of strongly interacting electrons.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Hierarchical mean-field approach to the $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg model on a square lattice

We study the quantum phase diagram and excitation spectrum of the frustrated $J_1$-$J_2$ spin-1/2 Heisenberg Hamiltonian. A hierarchical mean-field approach, at the heart of which lies the idea of identifying {\it relevant} degrees of freedom, is developed. Thus, by performing educated, manifestly symmetry preserving mean-field approximations, we unveil fundamental properties of the system. We then compare various coverings of the square lattice with plaquettes, dimers and other degrees of freedom, and show that only the {\it symmetric plaquette} covering, which reproduces the original Bravais lattice, leads to the known phase diagram. The intermediate quantum paramagnetic phase is shown to be a (singlet) {\it plaquette crystal}, connected with the neighboring Néel phase by a continuous phase transition. We also introduce fluctuations around the hierarchical mean-field solutions, and demonstrate that in the paramagnetic phase the ground and first excited states are separated by a finite gap, which closes in the Néel and columnar phases. Our results suggest that the quantum phase transition between Néel and paramagnetic phases can be properly described within the Ginzburg-Landau-Wilson paradigm.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Ferrotoroidic Moment as a Quantum Geometric Phase

We present a geometric characterization of the ferrotoroidic moment in terms of a set of Abelian Berry phases. We also introduce a fundamental complex quantity which provides an alternative way to calculate the ferrotoroidic moment and its moments, and is derived from a second order tensor. This geometric framework defines a natural computational approach for density functional and many-body theories.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

The Cooper pair from radio-frequency excitations in ultracold gases

We discuss the concept of Cooper pair in the context of recent experimental studies of radio-frequency excitations in ultracold atomic gases. We argue that the threshold energy determines the size of the Cooper pair emergent from the exact solution of the reduced BCS problem, and elaborate on the physical distinction between bosonic and fermionic Cooper pairs.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

Integrable models for asymmetric Fermi superfluids: Emergence of a new exotic pairing phase

We introduce an exactly-solvable model to study the competition between the Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell (LOFF) and breached-pair superfluid in strongly interacting ultracold asymmetric Fermi gases. One can thus investigate homogeneous and inhomogeneous states on an equal footing and establish the quantum phase diagram. For certain values of the filling and the interaction strength, the model exhibits a new stable exotic pairing phase which combines an inhomogeneous state with an interior gap to pair-excitations. It is proven that this phase is the exact ground state in the strong coupling limit, while numerical examples demonstrate that also at finite interaction strength it can have lower energy than the breached-pair or LOFF states.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

What is a Cooper pair ?

Recently, the nature of Cooper pairs in the BCS-BEC crossover has regained attention due to the observation of a large fraction of preformed fermion pairs on the BCS side of the Feshbach resonance in ultracold atomic Fermi gases. While several theoretical explanations were proposed, the interpretations are still controversial. The root of the controversy is understanding what represents a Cooper pair in a correlated Fermi system. This paper discusses these issues at the most elementary level.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Universal properties of modulated antiferromagnetic systems

Magnetism and superconductivity are physical phenomena whose foundations are rooted in quantum mechanics and whose technological applications do not cease to surprise us. In this article we describe a class of magnetic materials, we call modulated antiferromagnetic systems (MAS), that has a prominent representative in the copper-oxide high-temperature superconductors. The class, however, is not exclusive to these superconductors. Indeed, several materials that belong to that class are insulators. The magnetic spectral weight of MAS displays the following universal properties: a local intensity maximum (resonance peak) at the commensurate antiferromagnetic wave vector; peaks at the nearly-antiferromagnetic wave vectors for excitation energies well below the resonance, and at wave vectors rotated by 45 degrees for energies above resonance. Moreover, we predict an observable rotation by 45 degrees of the peaks immediately below the resonance. All these universal signatures, condensed in a twisted hour-glass-like spectrum, are merely consequences of the unique topological characteristics of the single-particle magnetic dispersion relation. We thus provide a unifying scenario that explains the phenomenology that has been observed in inelastic neutron scattering experiments of the high-temperature superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Liquid state NMR simulations of quantum many-body problems

Recently developed quantum algorithms suggest that in principle, quantum computers can solve problems such as simulation of physical systems more efficiently than classical computers. Much remains to be done to implement these conceptual ideas into actual quantum computers. As a small-scale demonstration of their capability, we simulate a simple many-fermion problem, the Fano-Anderson model, using liquid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). We carefully designed our experiment so that the resource requirement would scale up polynomially with the size of the quantum system to be simulated. The experimental results allow us to assess the limits of the degree of quantum control attained in these kinds of experiments. The simulation of other physical systems, with different particle statistics, is also discussed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Stripes, topological order, and deconfinement in a planar t-Jz model

We determine the quantum phase diagram of a two-dimensional bosonic t-Jz model as a function of the lattice anisotropy gamma, using a quantum Monte Carlo loop algorithm. We show analytically that the low-energy sectors of the bosonic and the fermionic t-Jz models become equivalent in the limit of small gamma. In this limit, the ground state represents a static stripe phase characterized by a non-zero value of a topological order parameter. This phase remains up to intermediate values of gamma, where there is a quantum phase transition to a phase-segregated state or a homogeneous superfluid with dynamic stripe fluctuations depending on the ratio Jz/t.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Exactly-Solvable Models Derived from a Generalized Gaudin Algebra

We introduce a generalized Gaudin Lie algebra and a complete set of mutually commuting quantum invariants allowing the derivation of several families of exactly solvable Hamiltonians. Different Hamiltonians correspond to different representations of the generators of the algebra. The derived exactly-solvable generalized Gaudin models include the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer, Suhl-Matthias-Walker, the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick, generalized Dicke, the Nuclear Interacting Boson Model, a new exactly-solvable Kondo-like impurity model, and many more that have not been exploited in the physics literature yet.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Algebraic Approach to Interacting Quantum Systems

We present an algebraic framework for interacting extended quantum systems to study complex phenomena characterized by the coexistence and competition of different states of matter. We start by showing how to connect different (spin-particle-gauge) {\it languages} by means of exact mappings (isomorphisms) that we name {\it dictionaries} and prove a fundamental theorem establishing when two arbitrary languages can be connected. These mappings serve to unravel symmetries which are hidden in one representation but become manifest in another. In addition, we establish a formal link between seemingly unrelated physical phenomena by changing the language of our model description. This link leads to the idea of {\it universality} or equivalence. Moreover, we introduce the novel concept of {\it emergent symmetry} as another symmetry guiding principle. By introducing the notion of {\it hierarchical languages}, we determine the quantum phase diagram of lattice models (previously unsolved) and unveil hidden order parameters to explore new states of matter. Hierarchical languages also constitute an essential tool to provide a unified description of phases which compete and coexist. Overall, our framework provides a simple and systematic methodology to predict and discover new kinds of orders. Another aspect exploited by the present formalism is the relation between condensed matter and lattice gauge theories through quantum link models. We conclude discussing applications of these dictionaries to the area of quantum information and computation with emphasis in building new models of computation and quantum programming languages.

cond-mat.str-el↗