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So-Young Pi

Publications and source records attributed to So-Young Pi.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2016

Dissipationless conductance in a topological coaxial cable

We present a dynamical mechanism leading to dissipationless conductance, whose quantized value is controllable, in a (3+1)-dimensional electronic system. The mechanism is exemplified by a theory of Weyl fermions coupled to a Higgs field--also known as an axion insulator. We show that the insertion of an axial gauge flux can induce vortex lines in the Higgs field, similarly to the development of vortices in a superconductor upon the insertion of magnetic flux. We further show that the necessary axial gauge flux can be generated using Rashba spin-orbit coupling or a magnetic field. Vortex lines in the Higgs field are known to bind chiral fermionic modes, each of which serves as a one-way channel for electric charge with conductance $e^2/h$. Combining these elements, we present a physical picture, the "topological coaxial cable," illustrating how the value of the quantized conductance could be controlled in such an axion insulator.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2015

Fake Conformal Symmetry in Conformal Cosmological Models

We examine the local conformal invariance (Weyl invariance) in tensor-scalar theories used in recently proposed conformal cosmological models. We show that the Noether currents associated with Weyl invariance in these theories vanish. We assert that the corresponding Weyl symmetry does not have any dynamical role.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2013

Generalized energy and time-translation invariance in a driven, dissipative system

Driven condensed matter systems consistently pose substantial challenges to theoretical understanding. Progress in the study of such systems has been achieved using the Floquet formalism, but certain aspects of this approach are not well understood. In this paper, we consider the exceptionally simple case of the rotating Kekulé mass in graphene through the lens of Floquet theory. We show that the fact that this problem is gauge-equivalent to a time-independent problem implies that the "quasi-energies" of Floquet theory correspond to a continuous symmetry of the full time-dependent Lagrangian. We use the conserved Noether charge associated with this symmetry to recover notions of equilibrium statistical mechanics.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2013

Materials design from non-equilibrium steady states: driven graphene as a tunable semiconductor with topological properties

Controlling the properties of materials by driving them out of equilibrium is an exciting prospect that has only recently begun to be explored. In this paper we give a striking theoretical example of such materials design: a tunable gap in monolayer graphene is generated by exciting a particular optical phonon. We show that the system reaches a steady state whose transport properties are the same as if the system had a static electronic gap, controllable by the driving amplitude. Moreover, the steady state displays topological phenomena: there are chiral edge currents, which circulate a fractional charge e/2 per rotation cycle, with frequency set by the optical phonon frequency.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2008

Irrational vs. rational charge and statistics in two-dimensional quantum systems

We show that quasiparticle excitations with irrational charge and irrational exchange statistics exist in tight-biding systems described, in the continuum approximation, by the Dirac equation in (2+1)-dimensional space and time. These excitations can be deconfined at zero temperature, but when they are, the charge re-rationalizes to the value 1/2 and the exchange statistics to that of "quartons" (half-semions).

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2007

Electron fractionalization for two-dimensional Dirac fermions

Fermion-number fractionalization without breaking of time-reversal symmetry was recently demonstrated for a field theory in $(2+1)$-dimensional space and time that describes the couplings between massive Dirac fermions, a complex-valued Higgs field carrying an axial gauge charge of 2, and a U(1) axial gauge field. Charge fractionalization occurs whenever the Higgs field either supports vortices by itself, or when these vortices are accompanied by half-vortices in the axial gauge field. The fractional charge is computed by three different techniques. A formula for the fractional charge is given as a function of a parameter in the Dirac Hamiltonian that breaks the spectral energy-reflection symmetry. In the presence of a charge $\pm1$ vortex in the Higgs field only, the fractional charge varies continuously and thus can take irrational values. The simultaneous presence of a half-vortex in the axial gauge field and a charge $\pm1$ vortex in the Higgs field re-rationalizes the fractional charge to the value 1/2.

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

Chern-Simons Reduction and non-Abelian Fluid Mechanics

We propose a non-Abelian generalization of the Clebsch parameterization for a vector in three dimensions. The construction is based on a group-theoretical reduction of the Chern-Simons form on a symmetric space. The formalism is then used to give a canonical (symplectic) discussion of non-Abelian fluid mechanics, analogous to the way the Abelian Clebsch parameterization allows a canonical description of conventional fluid mechanics.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

Creation and evolution of magnetic helicity

Projecting a non-Abelian SU(2) vacuum gauge field - a pure gauge constructed from the group element U - onto a fixed (electromagnetic) direction in isospace gives rise to a nontrivial magnetic field, with nonvanishing magnetic helicity, which coincides with the winding number of U. Although the helicity is not conserved under Maxwell (vacuum) evolution, it retains one-half its initial value at infinite time.

hep-th↗
arXiv1998

Dimensionally Reduced Chern-Simons Terms and their Solitons

We consider models in which nonrelativistic matter fields interact with gauge fields whose dynamics are governed by the Chern-Simons term. The relevant equations of motion are derived and reduced dimensionally in time or in space. Interesting solitonic equations emerge and their solutions are described. Finally, we consider a Chern-Simons term in three-dimensional Euclidean space, reduced by spherical symmetry, and we discuss its effect on monopole and instanton solutions.

hep-th↗
arXiv1995

Entanglement Entropy of Nontrivial States

We study the entanglement entropy arising from coherent states and one--particle states. We show that it is possible to define a finite entanglement entropy by subtracting the vacuum entropy from that of the considered states, when the unobserved region is the same.

hep-th↗
arXiv1994

Non-Abelian Chern-Simons Particles and their Quantization

A many--body Schrödinger equation for non--Abelian Chern--Simons particles is obtained from both point--particle and field--theoretic pictures. We present a particle Lagrangian and a field theoretic Lagrange density, and discuss their properties. Both are quantized by the symplectic method of Hamiltonian reduction. An $N$--body Schrödinger equation for the particles is obtained from both starting points. It is shown that the resulting interaction between particles can be replaced by non--trivial boundary conditions. Also, the equation is compared with the one given in the literature.

hep-th↗
arXiv1992

Finite and Infinite Symmetries in (2+1)-Dimensional Field Theory

These days, Franco Iachello is {\it the\/} eminent practitioner applying classical and finite groups to physics. In this he is following a tradition at Yale, established by the late Feza Gursey, and succeeding Gursey in the Gibbs chair; Gursey in turn, had Pauli as a mentor. Iachello's striking achievement has been to find an actual realization of arcane supersymmetry within mundane adjacent even-odd nuclei. Thus far this is the only {\it physical\/} use of supersymmetry, and its fans surely must be surprised at the venue. Here we describe the role of $SO(2,1)$ conformal symmetry in non-relativistic Chern--Simons theory: how it acts, how it controls the nature of solutions, how it expands to an infinite group on the manifold of static solutions thereby rendering the static problem completely integrable. Since Iachello has also used the $SO(2,1)$ group in various contexts, this essay is presented to him on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday.

hep-th↗