arXiv subjects

Meng Cheng

Publications and source records attributed to Meng Cheng.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Exactly Solvable Models for Symmetry-Enriched Topological Phases

We construct fixed-point wave functions and exactly solvable commuting-projector Hamiltonians for a large class of bosonic symmetry-enriched topological (SET) phases, based on the concept of equivalent classes of symmetric local unitary transformations. We argue that for onsite unitary symmetries, our construction realizes all SETs free of anomaly, as long as the underlying topological order itself can be realized with a commuting-projector Hamiltonian. We further extend the construction to anti-unitary symmetries (e.g. time-reversal symmetry), mirror-reflection symmetries, and to anomalous SETs on the surface of three-dimensional symmetry-protected topological phases. Mathematically, our construction naturally leads to a generalization of group extensions of unitary fusion categories to anti-unitary symmetries.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Topological Spin Liquid with Symmetry-Protected Edge States

Topological spin liquids are robust quantum states of matter with long-range entanglement and possess many exotic properties such as the fractional statistics of the elementary excitations. Yet these states, short of local parameters like all topological states, are elusive for conventional experimental probes. In this work, we combine theoretical analysis and quantum Monte Carlo numerics on a frustrated spin model which hosts a $\mathbb Z_2$ topological spin liquid ground state, and demonstrate that the presence of symmetry-protected gapless edge modes is a characteristic feature of the state, originating from the nontrivial symmetry fractionalization of the elementary excitations. Experimental observation of these modes on the edge would directly indicate the existence of the topological spin liquids in the bulk, analogous to the fact that the observation of Dirac edge states confirmed the existence of topological insulators.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Translational symmetry and microscopic constraints on symmetry-enriched topological phases: a view from the surface

The Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem and its higher dimensional generalizations by Oshikawa and Hastings require that translationally invariant 2D spin systems with a half-integer spin per unit cell must either have a continuum of low energy excitations, spontaneously break some symmetries, or exhibit topological order with anyonic excitations. We establish a connection between these constraints and a remarkably similar set of constraints at the surface of a 3D interacting topological insulator. This, combined with recent work on symmetry-enriched topological phases (SETs) with on-site unitary symmetries, enables us to develop a framework for understanding the structure of SETs with both translational and on-site unitary symmetries, including the effective theory of symmetry defects. This framework places stringent constraints on the possible types of symmetry fractionalization that can occur in 2D systems whose unit cell contains fractional spin, fractional charge, or a projective representation of the symmetry group. As a concrete application, we determine when a topological phase must possess a "spinon" excitation, even in cases when spin rotational invariance is broken down to a discrete subgroup by the crystal structure. We also describe the phenomena of "anyonic spin-orbit coupling", which may arise from the interplay of translational and on-site symmetries. These include the possibility of on-site symmetry defect branch lines carrying topological charge per unit length and lattice dislocations inducing on-site symmetry protected degeneracies.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Fractional $S$-duality, Classification of Fractional Topological Insulators and Surface Topological Order

In this paper, we propose a generalization of the $S$-duality of four-dimensional quantum electrodynamics ($\text{QED}_4$) to $\text{QED}_4$ with fractionally charged excitations, the fractional $S$-duality. Such $\text{QED}_4$ can be obtained by gauging the $\text{U(1)}$ symmetry of a topologically ordered state with fractional charges. When time-reversal symmetry is imposed, the axion angle ($θ$) can take a nontrivial but still time-reversal invariant value $π/t^2$ ($t\in\mathbb{Z}$). Here, $1/t$ specifies the minimal electric charge carried by bulk excitations. Such states with time-reversal and $\text{U(1)}$ global symmetry (fermion number conservation) are fractional topological insulators (FTI). We propose a topological quantum field theory description, which microscopically justifies the fractional $S$-duality. Then, we consider stacking operations (i.e., a direct sum of Hamiltonians) among FTIs. We find that there are two topologically distinct classes of FTIs: type-I and type-II. Type-I ($t\in\mathbb{Z}_{\rm odd}$) can be obtained by directly stacking a non-interacting topological insulator and a fractionalized gapped fermionic state with minimal charge $1/t$ and vanishing $θ$. But type-II ($t\in\mathbb{Z}_{\rm even}$) cannot be realized through any stacking. Finally, we study the Surface Topological Order of fractional topological insulators.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Loop Braiding Statistics and Interacting Fermionic Symmetry-Protected Topological Phases in Three Dimensions

We study Abelian braiding statistics of loop excitations in three-dimensional (3D) gauge theories with fermionic particles and the closely related problem of classifying 3D fermionic symmetry-protected topological (FSPT) phases with unitary symmetries. It is known that the two problems are related by turning FSPT phases into gauge theories through gauging the global symmetry of the former. We show that there exist certain types of Abelian loop braiding statistics that are allowed only in the the presence of fermionic particles, which correspond to 3D "intrinsic" FSPT phases, i.e., those that do not stem from bosonic SPT phases. While such intrinsic FSPT phases are ubiquitous in 2D systems and in 3D systems with anti-unitary symmetries, their existence in 3D systems with unitary symmetries was not confirmed previously due to the fact that strong interaction is necessary to realize them. We show that the simplest unitary symmetry to support 3D intrinsic FSPT phases is $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}_4$. To establish the results, we first derive a complete set of physical constraints on Abelian loop braiding statistics. Solving the constraints, we obtain all possible Abelian loop braiding statistics in 3D gauge theories, including those that correspond to intrinsic FSPT phases. Then, we construct exactly soluble state-sum models to realize the loop braiding statistics. These state-sum models generalize the well-known Crane-Yetter and Dijkgraaf-Witten models.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Reflection and time reversal symmetry enriched topological phases of matter: path integrals, non-orientable manifolds, and anomalies

We study symmetry-enriched topological (SET) phases in 2+1 space-time dimensions with spatial reflection and/or time-reversal symmetries. We provide a systematic construction of a wide class of reflection and time-reversal SET phases in terms of a topological path integral defined on general space-time manifolds. An important distinguishing feature of different topological phases with reflection and/or time-reversal symmetry is the value of the path integral on non-orientable space-time manifolds. We derive a simple general formula for the path integral on the manifold $Σ^2 \times S^1$, where $Σ^2$ is a two-dimensional non-orientable surface and $S^1$ is a circle. This also gives an expression for the ground state degeneracy of the SET on the surface $Σ^2$ that depends on the reflection symmetry fractionalization class, generalizing the Verlinde formula for ground state degeneracy on orientable surfaces. Consistency of the action of the mapping class group on non-orientable manifolds leads us to a constraint that can detect when a time-reversal or reflection SET phase is anomalous in (2+1)D and, thus, can only exist at the surface of a (3+1)D symmetry protected topological (SPT) state. Given a (2+1)D reflection and/or time-reversal SET phase, we further derive a general formula that determines which (3+1)D reflection and/or time-reversal SPT phase hosts the (2+1)D SET phase as its surface termination. A number of explicit examples are studied in detail.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Topological Quantum Computation with Gapped Boundaries

This paper studies fault-tolerant quantum computation with gapped boundaries. We first introduce gapped boundaries of Kitaev's quantum double models for Dijkgraaf-Witten theories using their Hamiltonian realizations. We classify the elementary excitations on the boundary, and systematically describe the bulk-to-boundary condensation procedure. We also provide a commuting Hamiltonian to realize defects between boundaries in any quantum double model. Next, we present the algebraic/categorical structure of gapped boundaries and boundary defects, which will be used to describe topologically protected operations and obtain quantum gates. To demonstrate a potential physical realization, we provide quantum circuits for surface codes that can perform all basic operations on gapped boundaries. Finally, we show how gapped boundaries of the abelian theory $\mathfrak{D}(\mathbb{Z}_3)$ can be used to perform universal quantum computation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

A series of (2+1)d Stable Self-Dual Interacting Conformal Field Theories

Using the duality between seemingly different (2+1)d conformal field theories (CFT) proposed recently, we study a series of (2+1)d stable self-dual interacting CFTs. These CFTs can be realized (for instance) on the boundary of the (3+1)d bosonic topological insulator protected by U(1) and time-reversal symmetry, and they remain stable as long as these symmetries are preserved. When realized as a boundary system, these CFTs can be driven into anomalous fractional quantum Hall states once time-reversal is broken. We demonstrate that the newly proposed dualities allow us to study these CFTs quantitatively through a controlled calculation, without relying on a large flavor number of matter fields.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

How quickly can anyons be braided? Or: How I learned to stop worrying about diabatic errors and love the anyon

Topological phases of matter are a potential platform for the storage and processing of quantum information with intrinsic error rates that decrease exponentially with inverse temperature and with the length scales of the system, such as the distance between quasiparticles. However, it is less well-understood how error rates depend on the speed with which non-Abelian quasiparticles are braided. In general, diabatic corrections to the holonomy or Berry's matrix vanish at least inversely with the length of time for the braid, with faster decay occurring as the time-dependence is made smoother. We show that such corrections will not affect quantum information encoded in topological degrees of freedom, unless they involve the creation of topologically nontrivial quasiparticles. Moreover, we show how measurements that detect unintentionally created quasiparticles can be used to control this source of error.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Ising Anyons in Frustration-Free Majorana-Dimer Models

Dimer models have long been a fruitful playground for understanding topological physics. Here we introduce a new class - termed Majorana-dimer models - wherein bosonic dimers are decorated with pairs of Majorana modes. We find that the simplest examples of such systems realize an intriguing, intrinsically fermionic phase of matter that can be viewed as the product of a chiral Ising theory, which hosts deconfined non-Abelian quasiparticles, and a topological $p_x - ip_y$ superconductor. While the bulk anyons are described by a single copy of the Ising theory, the edge remains fully gapped. Consequently, this phase can arise in exactly solvable, frustration-free models. We describe two parent Hamiltonians: one generalizes the well-known dimer model on the triangular lattice, while the other is most naturally understood as a model of decorated fluctuating loops on a honeycomb lattice. Using modular transformations, we show that the ground-state manifold of the latter model unambiguously exhibits all properties of the $\text{Ising} \times (p_x-ip_y)$ theory. We also discuss generalizations with more than one Majorana mode per site, which realize phases related to Kitaev's 16-fold way in a similar fashion.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Topological Enrichment of Luttinger's Theorem

We establish a generalization of Luttinger's theorem that applies to fractionalized Fermi liquids, i.e. Fermi liquids coexisting with symmetry enriched topological order. We find that, in the linear relation between the Fermi volume and the density of fermions, the contribution of the density is changed by the filling fraction associated with the topologically ordered sector, which is determined by how the symmetries fractionalize. Conversely, this places constraints on the allowed symmetry enriched topological orders that can manifest in a fractionalized Fermi liquid with a given Fermi volume and density of fermions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Classification of Metaplectic Modular Categories

We obtain a classification of metaplectic modular categories: every metaplectic modular category is a gauging of the particle-hole symmetry of a cyclic modular category. Our classification suggests a conjecture that every weakly-integral modular category can be obtained by gauging a symmetry of a pointed modular category.

math.QA↗

arXiv2015

Chirality-Protected Majorana Zero Modes at the Gapless Edge of Abelian Quantum Hall States

We show that the $ν=8$ integer quantum Hall state can support Majorana zero modes at domain walls between its two different stable chiral edge phases without superconductivity. This is due to the existence of an edge phase that does not support gapless fermionic excitations; all gapless excitations are bosonic in this edge phase. Majorana fermion zero modes occur at a domain wall between this edge phase and the more conventional one that does support gapless fermions. Remarkably, due to the chirality of the system, the topological degeneracy of these zero modes has exponential protection, as a function of the relevant length scales, in spite of the presence of gapless excitations, including gapless fermions. These results are compatible with charge conservation, but do not require it. We discuss generalizations to other integer and fractional quantum Hall states, and classify possible mechanisms for appearance of Majorana zero modes at domain walls.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Symmetry Fractionalization in Three-Dimensional $\mathbb{Z}_2$ Topological Order and Fermionic Symmetry-Protected Phases

In two-dimensional topological phases, quasiparticle excitations can carry fractional symmetry quantum numbers. We generalize this notion of symmetry fractionalization to three-dimensional topological phases, in particular to loop excitations, and propose a partial classification for symmetry-enriched $\mathbb{Z}_2$ toric code phase. We apply the results to the classification of fermionic symmetry-protected topological phases in three dimensions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Symmetry fractionalization of visons in $\mathbb Z_2$ spin liquids

In this work we study symmetry fractionalization of vison excitations in topological $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquids. We show that in the presence of the full $\mathrm{SO}(3)$ spin rotational symmetry and if there is an odd number of spin-$\frac12$ per unit cell, the symmetry fractionalization of visons is completely fixed. On the other hand, visons can have different classes of symmetry fractionalization if the spin rotational symmetry is reduced. As a concrete example, we show that visons in the Balents-Fisher-Girvin $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid have crystal symmetry fractionalization classes which are not allowed in $\mathrm{SO}(3)$ symmetric spin liquids, due to the reduced spin rotational symmetry.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Bridging Fermionic and Bosonic Short Range Entangled States

In this paper we construct bosonic short range entangled (SRE) states in all spatial dimensions by coupling a $Z_2$ gauge field to fermionic SRE states with the same symmetries, and driving the $Z_2$ gauge field to its confined phase. We demonstrate that this approach allows us to construct many examples of bosonic SRE states, and we demonstrate that the previous descriptions of bosonic SRE states such as the semiclassical nonlinear sigma model field theory and the Chern-Simons field theory can all be derived using the fermionic SRE states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Abelian and Non-Abelian States in $ν=2/3$ Bilayer Fractional Quantum Hall Systems

There are several possible theoretically allowed non-Abelian fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states that could potentially be realized in one- and two- component FQH systems at total filling fraction $ν= n+ 2/3$, for integer $n$. Some of these states even possess quasiparticles with non-Abelian statistics that are powerful enough for universal topological quantum computation, and are thus of particular interest. Here, we initiate a systematic numerical study, using both exact diagonalization and variational Monte Carlo, to investigate the phase diagram of FQH systems at total filling fraction $ν= n+2/3$, including in particular the possibility of the non-Abelian $Z_4$ parafermion state. In $ν= 2/3$ bilayers, we determine the phase diagram as a function of interlayer tunneling and repulsion, finding only three competing Abelian states, without the $Z_4$ state. On the other hand, in single-component systems at $ν= 8/3$, we find that the $Z_4$ parafermion state has significantly higher overlap with the exact ground state than the Laughlin state, together with a larger gap, suggesting that the experimentally observed $ν= 8/3$ state may be non-Abelian. Our results from the two complementary numerical techniques agree well with each other qualitatively.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Fractional Josephson Effect in Number-Conserving Systems

We study fractional Josephson effect in a particle-number conserving system consisting of a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor coupled to a nanowire or an edge carrying $e/m$ fractional charge excitations with $m$ being an odd integer. We show that, due to the topological ground-state degeneracy in the system, the periodicity of the supercurrent on magnetic flux through the superconducting loop is non-trivial which provides a possibility to detect topological phases of matter by the $dc$ supercurrent measurement. Using a microscopic model for the nanowire and quasi-one-dimensional superconductor, we derived an effective low-energy theory for the system which takes into account effects of quantum phase fluctuations. We discuss the stability of the fractional Josephson effect with respect to the quantum phase slips in a mesoscopic superconducting ring with a finite charging energy.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗