arXiv subjects

Victor Gurarie

Publications and source records attributed to Victor Gurarie.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

One-dimensional model of chiral fermions with Feshbach resonant interactions

We study a model of two species of one-dimensional linearly dispersing fermions interacting via an s-wave Feshbach resonance at zero temperature. While this model is known to be integrable, it possesses novel features that have not previously been investigated. Here, we present an exact solution based on the coordinate Bethe Ansatz. In the limit of infinite resonance strength, which we term the strongly interacting limit, the two species of fermions behave as free Fermi gases. In the limit of infinitely weak resonance, or the weakly interacting limit, the gases can be in different phases depending on the detuning, the relative velocities of the particles, and the particle densities. When the molecule moves faster or slower than both species of atoms, the atomic velocities get renormalized and the atoms may even become non-chiral. On the other hand, when the molecular velocity is between that of the atoms, the system may behave like a weakly interacting Lieb-Liniger gas.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2017

Topological order, symmetry, and Hall response of two-dimensional spin-singlet superconductors

Fully gapped two-dimensional superconductors coupled to dynamical electromagnetism are known to exhibit topological order. In this work, we develop a unified low-energy description for spin-singlet paired states by deriving topological Chern-Simons field theories for $s$-wave, $d+id$, and chiral higher even-wave superconductors. These theories capture the quantum statistics and fusion rules of Bogoliubov quasiparticles and vortices and incorporate global continuous symmetries - specifically, spin rotation and conservation of magnetic flux - present in all singlet superconductors. For all such systems, we compute the Hall response for these symmetries and investigate the physics at the edge. In particular, the weakly-coupled phase of a chiral $d+id$ chiral state has a spin Hall coefficient $ν_s=2$ and a vanishing Hall response for the magnetic flux symmetry. We argue that the latter is a generic result for two-dimensional superconductors with gapped photons, thereby demonstrating the absence of a spontaneous magnetic field in the ground state of chiral superconductors. It is also shown that the Chern-Simons theories of chiral spin-singlet superconductors derived here fall into Kitaev's 16-fold classification of topological superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Emergent Weyl excitations in systems of polar particles

Weyl fermions are massless chiral particles first predicted in 1929 and once thought to describe neutrinos. Although never observed as elementary particles, quasiparticles with Weyl dispersion have recently been experimentally discovered in solid-state systems causing a furore in the research community. Systems with Weyl excitations can display a plethora of fascinating phenomena and offer great potential for improved quantum technologies. Here we show that Weyl excitations generically exist in three-dimensional systems of dipolar particles with weakly broken time-reversal symmetry (for example, by a magnetic field). They emerge as a result of dipolar-interaction-induced transfer of angular momentum between the $J=0$ and $J=1$ internal particle levels. We also discuss momentum-resolved Ramsey spectroscopy methods for observing Weyl quasiparticles in cold alkaline-earth-atom systems. Our results provide a pathway for a feasible experimental realisation of Weyl quasiparticles and related phenomena in clean and controllable atomic systems.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2016

Exactly soluble model of boundary degeneracy

We investigate the topological degeneracy that can be realized in Abelian fractional quantum spin Hall states with multiply connected gapped boundaries. Such a topological degeneracy (also dubbed as "boundary degeneracy") does not require superconducting proximity effect and can be created by simply applying a depletion gate to the quantum spin Hall material and using a generic spin-mixing term (e.g., due to backscattering) to gap out the edge modes. We construct an exactly soluble microscopic model manifesting this topological degeneracy and solve it using the recently developed technique [S. Ganeshan and M. Levin, Phys. Rev. B 93, 075118 (2016)]. The corresponding string operators spanning this degeneracy are explicitly calculated. It is argued that the proposed scheme is experimentally reasonable.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Quantum quench phase diagrams of an s-wave BCS-BEC condensate

We study the dynamic response of an s-wave BCS-BEC (atomic-molecular) condensate to detuning quenches within the two channel model beyond the weak coupling BCS limit. At long times after the quench, the condensate ends up in one of three main asymptotic states (nonequilibrium phases), which are qualitatively similar to those in other fermionic condensates defined by a global complex order parameter. In phase I the amplitude of the order parameter vanishes as a power law, in phase II it goes to a nonzero constant, and in phase III it oscillates persistently. We construct exact quench phase diagrams that predict the asymptotic state (including the many-body wavefunction) depending on the initial and final detunings and on the Feshbach resonance width. Outside of the weak coupling regime, both the mechanism and the time dependence of the relaxation of the amplitude of the order parameter in phases I and II are modified. Also, quenches from arbitrarily weak initial to sufficiently strong final coupling do not produce persistent oscillations in contrast to the behavior in the BCS regime. The most remarkable feature of coherent condensate dynamics in various fermion superfluids is an effective reduction in the number of dynamic degrees of freedom as the evolution time goes to infinity. As a result, the long time dynamics can be fully described in terms of just a few new collective dynamical variables governed by the same Hamiltonian only with "renormalized" parameters. Combining this feature with the integrability of the underlying (e.g. the two channel) model, we develop and consistently present a general method that explicitly obtains the exact asymptotic state of the system.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2014

Spin-orbital dynamics in a system of polar molecules

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in solids normally originates from the electron motion in the electric field of the crystal. It is key to understanding a variety of spin-transport and topological phenomena, such as Majorana fermions and recently discovered topological insulators. Implementing and controlling spin-orbit coupling is thus highly desirable and could open untapped opportunities for the exploration of unique quantum physics. Here, we show that dipole-dipole interactions can produce an effective SOC in two-dimensional ultracold polar molecule gases. This SOC generates chiral excitations with a non-trivial Berry phase $2π$. These excitations, which we call \emph{chirons}, resemble low-energy quasiparticles in bilayer graphene and emerge regardless of the quantum statistics and for arbitrary ratios of kinetic to interaction energies. Chirons manifest themselves in the dynamics of the spin density profile, spin currents, and spin coherences, even for molecules pinned in a deep optical lattice and should be observable in current experiments.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2014

Quench-induced Floquet topological p-wave superfluids

Ultracold atomic gases in two dimensions tuned close to a p-wave Feshbach resonance were expected to exhibit topological superfluidity, but these were found to be experimentally unstable. We show that one can induce a topological Floquet superfluid if weakly interacting atoms are brought suddenly close ("quenched") to such a resonance, in the time before the instability kicks in. The resulting superfluid possesses Majorana edge modes, yet differs from a conventional Floquet system as it is not driven externally. Instead, the periodic modulation is self-generated by the dynamics.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2013

Quantum quench in a p + i p superfluid: Winding numbers and topological states far from equilibrium

We study the non-adiabatic dynamics of a 2D p+ip superfluid following a quantum quench of the BCS coupling constant. The model describes a topological superconductor with a non-trivial BCS (trivial BEC) phase appearing at weak (strong) coupling strengths. We extract the exact long-time asymptotics of the order parameter Δ(t) by exploiting the integrability of the classical p-wave Hamiltonian, which we establish via a Lax construction. Three different types of behavior can occur depending upon the strength and direction of the quench. In phase I, the order parameter asymptotes to zero. In phase II, Δ(t) goes to a non-zero constant. Phase III is characterized by persistent oscillations of Δ(t). For quenches within I and II, we determine the topological character of the asymptotic states. We show that two different formulations of the bulk topological winding number, although equivalent in the ground state, must be regarded as independent out of equilibrium. The first number Q characterizes the Anderson pseudospin texture of the initial state; we show that it is conserved. For non-zero Q, this leads to the prediction of a "gapless topological" state when Δ(t) goes to zero. The presence or absence of Majorana edge modes in a sample with a boundary is encoded in the second winding number W, formulated in terms of the retarded Green's function. We show that W can change following a quench across the quantum critical point. We discuss the implications for the (dis)appearance of Majorana edge modes. Finally, we show that the parity of zeros in the bulk out-of-equilibrium Cooper pair distribution function constitutes a Z2-valued quantum number, which is non-zero whenever W differs from Q. The pair distribution can in principle be measured using RF spectroscopy in an ultracold atom realization, allowing direct experimental detection of the bulk Z2 number.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2013

Z2 topological invariants in two dimensions from quantum Monte Carlo

We employ quantum Monte Carlo techniques to calculate the $Z_2$ topological invariant in a two-dimensional model of interacting electrons that exhibits a quantum spin Hall topological insulator phase. In particular, we consider the parity invariant for inversion-symmetric systems, which can be obtained from the bulk's imaginary-time Green's function after an appropriate continuation to zero frequency. This topological invariant is used here in order to study the trivial-band to topological-insulator transitions in an interacting system with spin-orbit coupling and an explicit bond dimerization. We discuss the accessibility and behavior of this topological invariant within quantum Monte Carlo simulations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Logarithmic operators and logarithmic conformal field theories

Logarithmic operators and logarithmic conformal field theories are reviewed. Prominent examples considered here include c=-2 and c=0 logarithmic conformal field theories. c=0 logarithmic conformal field theories are especially interesting since they describe some of the critical points of a variety of longstanding problems involving a two dimensional quantum particle moving in a spatially random potential, as well as critical two dimensional self avoiding random walks and percolation. Lack of classification of logarithmic conformal field theories remains a major impediment to progress towards finding complete solutions to these problems.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2013

Freezing of an unconventional two-dimensional plasma

We study an unconventional two-dimensional, two-component classical plasma on a sphere, with emphasis on detecting signatures of melting transitions. This system is relevant to Ising-type quantum Hall states, and is unconventional in the sense that it features particles interacting via two different two-dimensional Coulomb interactions. One species of particles in the plasma carries charge of both types (Q_1,Q_2), while the other species carries only charge of the second type (0,-Q_2). We find signatures of a freezing transition at Q_1^2 approximately 140. This means that the species with charge of both types will form a Wigner crystal, whereas the species with charge of the second type also shows signatures of being a Wigner crystal, due to the attractive inter-component interaction of the second type. Moreover, there is also a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition at Q_2^2 approximately 4, at which the two species of particles bind to form molecules that are neutral with respect to the second Coulomb interaction. These two transitions appear to be independent of each other, giving a rectangular phase diagram. As a special case, Q_2=0 describes the (conventional) two-dimensional one-component plasma. Our study is consistent with previous studies of this plasma, and sheds new light on the freezing transition of this system.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2013

Topological invariants for the fractional quantum Hall states

We calculate a topological invariant, whose value would coincide with the Chern number in case of integer quantum Hall effect, for fractional quantum Hall states. In case of Abelian fractional quantum Hall states, this invariant is shown to be equal to the trace of the K-matrix. In case of non-Abelian fractional quantum Hall states, this invariant can be calculated on a case by case basis from the conformal field theory describing these states. This invariant can be used, for example, to distinguish between different fractional Hall states numerically even though, as a single number, it cannot uniquely label distinct states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Global large time dynamics and the generalized Gibbs ensemble

We study the large time dynamics of a macroscopically large quantum systems under a sudden quench. We show that, first of all, for a generic system in the thermodynamic limit the Gibbs distribution correctly captures the large time dynamics of its global observables. In contrast, for an integrable system, the generalized Gibbs ensemble captures its global large time dynamics only if the system can be thought of as a number of noninteracting uncorrelated fermionic degrees of freedom. The conditions for the generalized Gibbs ensemble to capture the large time dynamics of local quantities are likely to be far less restrictive, but this question is not systematically addressed here.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2012

Topological invariants and interacting one-dimensional fermionic systems

We study one-dimensional, interacting, gapped fermionic systems described by variants of the Peierls-Hubbard model and characterize their phases via a topological invariant constructed out of their Green's functions. We demonstrate that the existence of topologically protected, zero-energy states at the boundaries of these systems can be tied to the values of their topological invariant, just like when working with the conventional, noninteracting topological insulators. We use a combination of analytical methods and the numerical density matrix renormalization group method to calculate the values of the topological invariant throughout the phase diagrams of these systems, thus deducing when topologically protected boundary states are present. We are also able to study topological states in spin systems because, deep in the Mott insulating regime, these fermionic systems reduce to spin chains. In this way, we associate the zero-energy states at the end of an antiferromagnetic spin-one Heisenberg chain with the topological invariant 2.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

From Cosmology to Cold Atoms: Observation of Sakharov Oscillations in Quenched Atomic Superfluids

Sakharov oscillations, conventionally discussed in the context of early universe evolution and the anisotropy of cosmic microwave background radiation, is the manifestation of interfering acoustic waves synchronously generated in an ideal fluid. Here we report the laboratory demonstration of Sakharov oscillations in a quenched atomic superfluid. We quench the sample by Feshbach tuning and monitor the subsequent density fluctuations at different time and length scales by in situ imaging. Sakharov oscillations are identified as the multi-peak structure in the atomic density power spectrum, resembling that of the cosmic microwave background. We also observe Sakharov oscillations in the time domain, from which we extract the energy dispersion of the superfluid, and determine the sonic horizon of the excitations.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2012

Antiferromagnetic topological insulators in cold atomic gases

We propose a spin-dependent optical lattice potential that realizes a three-dimensional antiferromagnetic topological insulator in a gas of cold, two-state fermions such as alkaline earths, as well as a model that describes the tight-binding limit of this potential. We discuss the physically observable responses of the gas that can verify the presence of this phase. We also point out how this model can be used to obtain two-dimensional flat bands with nonzero Chern number.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2012

Screening properties and phase transitions in unconventional plasmas for Ising-type quantum Hall states

Utilizing large-scale Monte-Carlo simulations, we investigate an unconventional two-component classical plasma in two dimensions which controls the behavior of the norms and overlaps of the quantum-mechanical wavefunctions of Ising-type quantum Hall states. The plasma differs fundamentally from that which is associated with the two-dimensional XY model and Abelian fractional quantum Hall states. We find that this unconventional plasma undergoes a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition from an insulator to a metal. The parameter values corresponding to Ising-type quantum Hall states lie on the metallic side of this transition. This result verifies the required properties of the unconventional plasma used to demonstrate that Ising-type quantum Hall states possess quasiparticles with non-Abelian braiding statistics.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2011

Topological liquids and valence cluster states in two-dimensional SU(N) magnets

We study the zero temperature phase diagram of a class of two-dimensional SU(N) antiferromagnets. These models are characterized by having the same type of SU(N) spin placed at each site of the lattice, and share the property that, in general, more than two spins must be combined to form a singlet. An important motivation to study these systems is that they may be realized naturally in Mott insulators of alkaline earth atoms placed on optical lattices; indeed, such Mott insulators have already been obtained experimentally, although the temperatures are still high compared to the magnetic exchange energy. We study these antiferromagnets in a large-N limit, finding a variety of ground states. Some of the models studied here have a valence bond solid ground state, as was found in prior studies, yet we find that many others have a richer variety of ground states. Focusing on the two-dimensional square lattice, in addition to valence cluster states (which are analogous to valence bond states), we find both Abelian and non-Abelian chiral spin liquid ground states, which are magnetic counterparts of the fractional quantum Hall effect. We also find a "doubled" chiral spin liquid ground state that preserves time reversal symmetry. These results are based on a combination of rigorous lower bounds on the large-N ground state energy, and a systematic numerical ground state search. We conclude by discussing whether experimentally relevant SU(N) antiferromagnets -- away from the large-N limit -- may be chiral spin liquids.

cond-mat.str-el↗