arXiv subjects

M. R. Zirnbauer

Publications and source records attributed to M. R. Zirnbauer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Wegner model on a tree graph: U(1) symmetry breaking and a non-standard phase of disordered electronic matter

Assuming the self-consistent theory of localization due to Abou-Chacra et al., we solve the N=1 Wegner model in the regime of strong disorder and high dimension. In the process, we uncover a non-standard electronic phase with spontaneously broken U(1) symmetry -- the missing field-theory basis underlying phenomena associated with fractal eigenstates and singular continuous spectra.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2016

Gaussian free fields at the integer quantum Hall plateau transition

In this work we put forward an effective Gaussian free field description of critical wavefunctions at the transition between plateaus of the integer quantum Hall effect. To this end, we expound our earlier proposal that powers of critical wave intensities prepared via point contacts behave as pure scaling fields obeying an Abelian operator product expansion. Our arguments employ the framework of conformal field theory and, in particular, lead to a multifractality spectrum which is parabolic. We also derive a number of old and new identities that hold exactly at the lattice level and hinge on the correspondence between the Chalker-Coddington network model and a supersymmetric vertex model.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2016

Haar expectations of ratios of random characteristic polynomials

We compute Haar ensemble averages of ratios of random characteristic polynomials for the classical Lie groups K = O(N), SO(N), and USp(N). To that end, we start from the Clifford-Weyl algebera in its canonical realization on the complex of holomorphic differential forms for a C-vector space V. From it we construct the Fock representation of an orthosymplectic Lie superalgebra osp associated to V. Particular attention is paid to defining Howe's oscillator semigroup and the representation that partially exponentiates the Lie algebra representation of sp in osp. In the process, by pushing the semigroup representation to its boundary and arguing by continuity, we provide a construction of the Shale-Weil-Segal representation of the metaplectic group. To deal with a product of n ratios of characteristic polynomials, we let V = C^n \otimes C^N where C^N is equipped with its standard K-representation, and focus on the subspace of K-equivariant forms. By Howe duality, this is a highest-weight irreducible representation of the centralizer g of Lie(K) in osp. We identify the K-Haar expectation of n ratios with the character of this g-representation, which we show to be uniquely determined by analyticity, Weyl group invariance, certain weight constraints and a system of differential equations coming from the Laplace-Casimir invariants of g. We find an explicit solution to the problem posed by all these conditions. In this way we prove that the said Haar expectations are expressed by a Weyl-type character formula for all integers N \ge 1. This completes earlier work by Conrey, Farmer, and Zirnbauer for the case of U(N).

math-ph↗

arXiv2014

Bott-Kitaev Periodic Table and the Diagonal Map

Building on the 10-way symmetry classification of disordered fermions, the authors have recently given a homotopy-theoretic proof of Kitaev's "Periodic Table" for topological insulators and superconductors. The present paper offers an introduction to the physical setting and the mathematical model used. Basic to the proof is the so-called Diagonal Map, a natural transformation akin to the Bott map of algebraic topology, which increases by one unit both the momentum-space dimension and the symmetry index of translation-invariant ground states of gapped free-fermion systems. This mapping is illustrated here with a few examples of interest.

math-ph↗

arXiv2014

Pure scaling operators at the integer quantum Hall plateau transition

Stationary wave functions at the transition between plateaus of the integer quantum Hall effect are known to exhibit multi-fractal statistics. Here we explore this critical behavior for the case of scattering states of the Chalker-Coddington model with point contacts. We argue that moments formed from the wave amplitudes of critical scattering states decay as pure powers of the distance between the points of contact and observation. These moments in the continuum limit are proposed to be correlations functions of primary fields of an underlying conformal field theory. We check this proposal numerically by finite-size scaling. We also verify the CFT prediction for a 3-point function involving two primary fields.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2012

Classification and symmetry properties of scaling dimensions at Anderson transitions

We develop a classification of composite operators without gradients at Anderson-transition critical points in disordered systems. These operators represent correlation functions of the local density of states (or of wave-function amplitudes). Our classification is motivated by the Iwasawa decomposition for the field of the pertinent supersymmetric σ-model: the scaling operators are represented by "plane waves" in terms of the corresponding radial coordinates. We also present an alternative construction of scaling operators by using the notion of highest-weight vector. We further argue that a certain Weyl-group invariance associated with the σ-model manifold leads to numerous exact symmetry relations between the scaling dimensions of the composite operators. These symmetry relations generalize those derived earlier for the multifractal spectrum of the leading operators.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2011

Symmetries of multifractal spectra and field theories of Anderson localization

We uncover field-theoretic underpinnings of symmetry relations for multifractal spectra at Anderson transitions and at critical points of other disordered systems. We show that such relations follow from the conformal invariance of the critical theory, which implies their general character. We also demonstrate that for the Anderson localization problem the entire probability distribution for the local density of states possesses a symmetry arising from the invariance of correlation functions of the underlying non-linear $σ$-model with respect to the Weyl group of the target space of the model.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2010

Coherent potential approximation for disordered bosons

A family of random models for bosonic quasi-particle excitations, e.g. the vibrations of a disordered solid, is introduced. The generator of the linearized phase space dynamics of these models is the sum of a deterministic and a random part. The former may describe any model of N identical phonon bands, while the latter is a d-dimensional generalization of the random matrix model of Lueck, Sommers, and Zirnbauer (LSZ). The models are constructed so as to exclude the unphysical occurrence of runaway solutions. By using the Efetov-Wegner supersymmetry method in combination with the new technique of superbosonization, the disordered boson model is cast in the form of a supermatrix field theory. A self-consistent approximation of mean-field type arises from treating the field theory as a variational problem. The resulting scheme, referred to as a coherent potential approximation, becomes exact for large values of N. In the random-matrix limit, agreement with the results of LSZ is found. The self-consistency equation for the full d-dimensional problem is solved numerically.

math-ph↗

arXiv2010

Equivalence of domains for hyperbolic Hubbard-Stratonovich transformations

We settle a long standing issue concerning the traditional derivation of non-compact non-linear sigma models in the theory of disordered electron systems: the hyperbolic Hubbard-Stratonovich (HS) transformation of Pruisken-Schaefer type. Only recently the validity of such transformations was proved in the case of U(p,q) (non-compact unitary) and O(p,q) (non-compact orthogonal) symmetry. In this article we give a proof for general non-compact symmetry groups. Moreover we show that the Pruisken-Schaefer type transformations are related to other variants of the HS transformation by deformation of the domain of integration. In particular we clarify the origin of surprising sign factors which were recently discovered in the case of orthogonal symmetry.

math-ph↗

arXiv2010

Zooming in on local level statistics by supersymmetric extension of free probability

We consider unitary ensembles of Hermitian NxN matrices H with a confining potential NV where V is analytic and uniformly convex. From work by Zinn-Justin, Collins, and Guionnet and Maida it is known that the large-N limit of the characteristic function for a finite-rank Fourier variable K is determined by the Voiculescu R-transform, a key object in free probability theory. Going beyond these results, we argue that the same holds true when the finite-rank operator K has the form that is required by the Wegner-Efetov supersymmetry method of integration over commuting and anti-commuting variables. This insight leads to a potent new technique for the study of local statistics, e.g., level correlations. We illustrate the new technique by demonstrating universality in a random matrix model of stochastic scattering.

math-ph↗

arXiv2008

Superbosonization of invariant random matrix ensembles

Superbosonization is a new variant of the method of commuting and anti-commuting variables as used in studying random matrix models of disordered and chaotic quantum systems. We here give a concise mathematical exposition of the key formulas of superbosonization. Conceived by analogy with the bosonization technique for Dirac fermions, the new method differs from the traditional one in that the superbosonization field is dual to the usual Hubbard-Stratonovich field. The present paper addresses invariant random matrix ensembles with symmetry group U(n), O(n), or USp(n), giving precise definitions and conditions of validity in each case. The method is illustrated at the example of Wegner's n-orbital model. Superbosonization promises to become a powerful tool for investigating the universality of spectral correlation functions for a broad class of random matrix ensembles of non-Gaussian and/or non-invariant type.

math-ph↗

arXiv2008

Nonhermitian Supersymmetric Partition Functions: the case of one bosonic flavor

We discuss the supersymmetric formulation of the nonhermitian $β= 2$ random matrix partition function with one bosonic flavor. This partition function is regularized by adding one conjugate boson and fermion each. A supersymmetric nonlinear $σ$-model for the resulting Goldstone degrees of freedom is obtained using symmetry arguments only. For a Gaussian probability distribution the same results are derived using superbosonization and the complex orthogonal polynomial method. The symmetry arguments apply to any model with the same symmetries and a mass gap, and demonstrate the universality of the nonlinear $σ$-model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Hyperbolic Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation made rigorous

We revisit a long standing issue in the theory of disordered electron systems and their effective description by a non-linear sigma model: the hyperbolic Hubbard-Stratonovich (HS) transformation in the bosonic sector. For time-reversal invariant systems without spin this sector is known to have a non-compact orthogonal symmetry O(p,q). There exists an old proposal by Pruisken and Schaefer how to do the HS transformation in an O(p,q) invariant way. Giving a precise formulation of this proposal, we show that the HS integral is a sign-alternating sum of integrals over disjoint domains.

math-ph↗

arXiv2007

Howe pairs, supersymmetry, and ratios of random characteristic polynomials for the unitary groups U(N)

For the classical compact Lie groups K = U(N) the autocorrelation functions of ratios of random characteristic polynomials are studied. Basic to our treatment is a property shared by the spinor representation of the spin group with the Shale-Weil representation of the metaplectic group: in both cases the character is the analytic square root of a determinant or the reciprocal thereof. By combining this fact with Howe's theory of supersymmetric dual pairs (g,K), we express the K-Haar average product of p ratios of characteristic polynomials and q conjugate ratios as a character which is associated with an irreducible representation of the Lie superalgebra g = gl(n|n) for n = p+q. This primitive character is shown to extend to an analytic radial section of a real supermanifold related to gl(n|n), and is computed by invoking Berezin's description of the radial parts of Laplace-Casimir operators for gl(n|n). The final result for the character looks like a natural transcription of the Weyl character formula to the context of highest-weight representations of Lie supergroups. While several other works have recently reproduced our results in the stable range where N is no less than max(p,q), the present approach covers the full range of matrix dimensions N. To make this paper accessible to the non-expert reader, we have included a chapter containing the required background material from superanalysis.

math-ph↗

arXiv2007

Superbosonization formula and its application to random matrix theory

Starting from Gaussian random matrix models we derive a new supermatrix field theory model. In contrast to the conventional non-linear sigma models, the new model is applicable for any range of correlations of the elements of the random matrices. We clarify the domain of integration for the supermatrices, and give a demonstration of how the model works by calculating the density of states for an ensemble of almost diagonal matrices. It is also shown how one can reduce the supermatrix model to the conventional sigma model.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Energy correlations for a random matrix model of disordered bosons

Linearizing the Heisenberg equations of motion around the ground state of an interacting quantum many-body system, one gets a time-evolution generator in the positive cone of a real symplectic Lie algebra. The presence of disorder in the physical system determines a probability measure with support on this cone. The present paper analyzes a discrete family of such measures of exponential type, and does so in an attempt to capture, by a simple random matrix model, some generic statistical features of the characteristic frequencies of disordered bosonic quasi-particle systems. The level correlation functions of the said measures are shown to be those of a determinantal process, and the kernel of the process is expressed as a sum of bi-orthogonal polynomials. While the correlations in the bulk scaling limit are in accord with sine-kernel or GUE universality, at the low-frequency end of the spectrum an unusual type of scaling behavior is found.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Symmetry classes of disordered fermions

Building upon Dyson's fundamental 1962 article known in random-matrix theory as 'the threefold way', we classify disordered fermion systems with quadratic Hamiltonians by their unitary and antiunitary symmetries. Important examples are afforded by noninteracting quasiparticles in disordered metals and superconductors, and by relativistic fermions in random gauge field backgrounds. The primary data of the classification are a Nambu space of fermionic field operators which carry a representation of some symmetry group. Our approach is to eliminate all of the unitary symmetries from the picture by transferring to an irreducible block of equivariant homomorphisms. After reduction, the block data specifying a linear space of symmetry-compatible Hamiltonians consist of a basic vector space V, a space of endomorphisms in End(V+V*), a bilinear form on V+V* which is either symmetric or alternating, and one or two antiunitary symmetries that may mix V with V*. Every such set of block data is shown to determine an irreducible classical compact symmetric space. Conversely, every irreducible classical compact symmetric space occurs in this way. This proves the correspondence between symmetry classes and symmetric spaces conjectured some time ago.

math-ph↗

arXiv2004

Spontaneous symmetry breaking of a hyperbolic sigma model in three dimensions

Non-linear sigma models that arise from the supersymmetric approach to disordered electron systems contain a non-compact bosonic sector. We study the model with target space H^2, the two-hyperboloid with isometry group SU(1,1), and prove that in three dimensions moments of the fields are finite in the thermodynamic limit. Thus the non-compact symmetry SU(1,1) is spontaneously broken. The bound on moments is compatible with the presence of extended states.

math-ph↗