arXiv subjects

Yizhi You

Publications and source records attributed to Yizhi You.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Anomalous flux state in higher-order topological superconductors

We investigate the anomalous flux state of interacting higher-order topological superconductors (HOTSC) protected by rotation symmetries. By introducing a $π$ superconducting flux in 2D HOTSC, we demonstrate the existence of a robust zero mode trapped at the flux center. Remarkably, the rotation symmetry and fermion parity display projective representation inside the $π$ flux with $N=2$ supersymmetry algebra. A similar gapless flux pattern also exists in 3D HOTSCs, the flux lines of which carry anomalous helical modes that cannot be realized on purely one-dimensional lattice models. Notably, these exotic phenomena can be manifested in a 2D frustrated quantum magnet whose low energy excitation characterizes emergent Majoranas with HOTSC band structure and the $Z_2$ flux exhibiting supersymmetries.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Interaction Enabled Fractonic Higher-Order Topological Phases

In this work, we present a collection of three-dimensional higher-order symmetry protected topological phases (HOSPTs) with gapless hinge modes that exist only in strongly interacting systems subject to subsystem symmetry constraints. We use a coupled wire construction to generate three families of microscopic lattice models: insulators with helical hinge modes, superconductors with chiral Majorana hinge modes, and fractionalized insulators with helical hinge modes that carry fractional charge. In particular, these HOSPTs do not require spatial symmetry protection, but are instead protected by subsystem symmetries, and support "fractonic" quasiparticle excitations that move within only a low-dimensional sub-manifold of the system. We analyze the anomaly structure for the boundary theory and the entanglement Hamiltonian, and show that the side surfaces of these HOSPTs, despite being partially gapped, exhibit symmetry anomalies, and can only be realized as the boundary of three-dimensional HOSPT phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Fractonic plaquette-dimer liquid beyond renormalization

We consider close-packed tiling models of geometric objects -- a mixture of hardcore dimers and plaquettes -- as a generalisation of the familiar dimer models. Specifically, on an anisotropic cubic lattice, we demand that each site be covered by either a dimer on a z-link or a plaquette in the x-y plane. The space of such fully packed tilings has an extensive degeneracy. This maps onto a fracton-type `higher-rank electrostatics', which can exhibit a plaquette-dimer liquid and an ordered phase. We analyse this theory in detail, using height representations and T-duality to demonstrate that the concomitant phase transition occurs due to the proliferation of dipoles formed by defect pairs. The resultant critical theory can be considered as a fracton version of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. A significant new element is its UV-IR mixing, where the low energy behavior of the liquid phase and the transition out of it is dominated by local (short-wavelength) fluctuations, rendering the critical phenomenon beyond the renormalization group paradigm.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Fractal Quantum Phase Transitions: Critical Phenomena Beyond Renormalization

We identify a quantum critical point with fractal symmetry whose effective theory eludes the renormalization group framework. We consider the Newman-Moore model with three-body interaction subjected to an external transverse field, which exhibits a Kramers-Wannier type self-duality and a fractal $Z_2$ symmetry with Ising charge conserved on a fractal subset of sites, i.e., on Sierpinski gaskets. Using large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we identify a continuous quantum phase transition between a phase with spontaneous fractal symmetry breaking and a paramagnetic phase. This phase transition is characterized by the emergence of a fractal scaling dimension $d=\ln(3)/\ln(2)$ at the quantum critical point, where the power-law exponent of the correlation function is related to the fractal dimension of the Sierpinski triangle. We develop a field theory to elucidate such quantum criticality and denote the fractal scaling as a subsequence of UV-IR mixing, where the low energy modes at the critical point are manipulated by short-wavelength physics due to the fractal symmetry.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Fractonic critical point proximate to a higher-order topological insulator: How does UV blend with IR?

We propose an unconventional topological quantum phase transition connecting a higher-order topological insulator (HOTI) and a featureless Mott insulator sharing the same symmetry patterns. We construct an effective theory description of the quantum critical point (QCP) by combining a bosonization approach and the coupled-stripe construction of 1D critical spin ladders. The phase transition theory is characterized by a critical dipole liquid theory with subsystem $U(1)$ symmetry whose low energy modes contain a Bose surface along the $k_x,k_y$ axis. Such a quantum critical point manifests fracton dynamics and the breakdown of the area law entanglement entropy due to the existence of a Bose surface. We numerically confirm our findings by measuring the entanglement entropy, topological rank-2 Berry phase, and the static structure factor throughout the topological transition and compare it with our previous approach obtained from the percolation picture. A significant new element of our phase transition theory is that the infrared~(IR) effective theory is controlled by short wave-length fluctuations with peculiar UV-IR mixing.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Visualizing Quasiparticles from Quantum Entanglement for general 1D phases

In this work, we present a quantum information framework for the entanglement behavior of the low energy quasiparticle (QP) excitations in various quantum phases in one-dimensional (1D) systems. We first establish an exact correspondence between the correlation matrix and the QP entanglement Hamiltonian for free fermions and find an extended in-gap state in the QP entanglement Hamiltonian as a consequence of the position uncertainty of the QP. A more general understanding of such an in-gap state can be extended to a Kramers theorem for the QP entanglement Hamiltonian, which also applies to strongly interacting systems. Further, we present a set of ubiquitous entanglement spectrum features, dubbed entanglement fragmentation, conditional mutual information, and measurement induced non-local entanglement for QPs in 1D symmetry protected topological phases. Our result thus provides a new framework to identify different phases of matter in terms of their QP entanglement.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Fracton Critical Point in Higher-Order Topological Phase Transition

The theory of quantum phase transitions separating different phases with distinct symmetry patterns at zero temperature is one of the foundations of modern quantum many-body physics. In this paper we demonstrate that the existence of a 2D topological phase transition between a higher-order topological insulator (HOTI) and a trivial Mott insulator with the same symmetry eludes this paradigm. We present a theory of this quantum critical point (QCP) driven by the fluctuations and percolation of the domain walls between a HOTI and a trivial Mott insulator region. Due to the spinon zero modes that decorate the rough corners of the domain walls, the fluctuations of the phase boundaries trigger a spinon-dipole hopping term with fracton dynamics. Hence we find the QCP is characterized by a critical dipole liquid theory with subsystem $U(1)$ symmetry and the breakdown of the area law entanglement entropy which exhibits a logarithmic enhancement: $L \ln(L)$. Using the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method, we analyze the dipole stiffness together with structure factor at the QCP which provide strong evidence of a critical dipole liquid with a Bose surface. These numerical signatures further support the fracton dynamics of the QCP, and suggest a new paradigm for 2D quantum criticality proximate to a topological phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Observing Quasiparticles through the Entanglement Lens

The low energy physics of interacting quantum systems is typically understood through the identification of the relevant quasiparticles or low energy excitations and their quantum numbers. We present a quantum information framework that goes beyond this to examine the nature of the entanglement in the corresponding quantum states. We argue that the salient features of the quasiparticles, including their quantum numbers, locality and fractionalization are reflected in the entanglement spectrum and in the mutual information. We illustrate these ideas in the specific context of the $d=1$ transverse field Ising model with an integrability breaking perturbation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Lieb-Schultz-Mattis type constraints on Fractonic Matter

The Lieb-Schultz-Mattis (LSM) theorem and its descendants impose strong constraints on the low-energy behavior of interacting quantum systems. In this paper, we formulate LSM-type constraints for lattice translation invariant systems with generalized U(1) symmetries which have recently appeared in the context of fracton phases: U(1) polynomial shift and subsystem symmetries. Starting with a generic interacting system with conserved dipole moment, we examine the conditions under which it supports a symmetric, gapped, and non-degenerate ground state, which we find requires that both the filling fraction and the bulk charge polarization take integer-values. Similar constraints are derived for systems with higher moment conservation laws or subsystem symmetries, in addition to lower bounds on the ground state degeneracy when certain conditions are violated. Finally, we discuss the mapping between LSM-type constraints for subsystem symmetries and the anomalous symmetry action at boundaries of subsystem symmetric topological (SSPT) states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Higher-Order Entanglement and Many-Body Invariants for Higher-Order Topological Phases

We discuss how strongly interacting higher-order symmetry protected topological (HOSPT) phases can be characterized from the entanglement perspective: First, we introduce a topological many-body invariant which reveals the non-commutative algebra between flux operator and $C_n$ rotations. We argue that this invariant denotes the angular momentum carried by the instanton which is closely related to the discrete Wen-Zee response and fractional corner charge. Second, we define a new entanglement property, dubbed `higher-order entanglement', to scrutinize and differentiate various higher-order topological phases from a hierarchical sequence of the entanglement structure. We support our claims by numerically studying a super-lattice Bose-Hubbard model that exhibits different HOSPT phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Fracton Phases of Matter

Fractons are a new type of quasiparticle which are immobile in isolation, but can often move by forming bound states. Fractons are found in a variety of physical settings, such as spin liquids and elasticity theory, and exhibit unusual phenomenology, such as gravitational physics and localization. The past several years have seen a surge of interest in these exotic particles, which have come to the forefront of modern condensed matter theory. In this review, we provide a broad treatment of fractons, ranging from pedagogical introductory material to discussions of recent advances in the field. We begin by demonstrating how the fracton phenomenon naturally arises as a consequence of higher moment conservation laws, often accompanied by the emergence of tensor gauge theories. We then provide a survey of fracton phases in spin models, along with the various tools used to characterize them, such as the foliation framework. We discuss in detail the manifestation of fracton physics in elasticity theory, as well as the connections of fractons with localization and gravitation. Finally, we provide an overview of some recently proposed platforms for fracton physics, such as Majorana islands and hole-doped antiferromagnets. We conclude with some open questions and an outlook on the field.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Fractional corner charges in a 2D super-lattice Bose-Hubbard model

We study a two dimensional super-lattice Bose-Hubbard model with alternating hoppings in the limit of strong on-site interactions. We evaluate the phase diagram of the model around half-filling using the density matrix renormalization group method and find two gapped phases separated by a gapless superfluid region. We demonstrate that the gapped states realize two distinct higher order symmetry protected topological phases, which are protected by a combination of charge conservation and $C_4$ lattice symmetry. The phases are distinguished in terms of a quantized fractional corner charge and a many-body topological invariant that is robust against arbitrary, symmetry preserving edge manipulations. We support our claims by numerically studying the full counting statistics of the corner charge, finding a sharp distribution peaked around the quantized values. These results are experimentally observable in ultracold atomic settings using state of the art quantum gas microscopy.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2019

Multipolar Topological Field Theories: Bridging Higher Order Topological Insulators and Fractons

Two new recently proposed classes of topological phases, namely fractons and higher order topological insulators (HOTIs), share at least superficial similarities. The wide variety of proposals for these phases calls for a universal field theory description that captures their key characteristic physical phenomena. In this work, we construct topological multipolar response theories that capture the essential features of some classes of fractons and higher order topological insulators. Remarkably, we find that despite their distinct symmetry structure, some classes of fractons and HOTIs can be connected through their essentially identical topological response theories. More precisely, we propose a topological quadrupole response theory that describes both a 2D symmetry enriched fracton phase and a related bosonic quadrupolar HOTI with strong interactions. Such a topological quadrupole term encapsulates the protected corner charge modes and, for the HOTI, predicts an anomalous edge with fractional dipole moment. In 3D we propose a dipolar Chern-Simons theory with a quantized coefficient as a description of the response of both second order HOTIs harboring chiral hinge currents, and of a related fracton phase. This theory correctly predicts chiral currents on the hinges and anomalous dipole currents on the surfaces. We generalize these results to higher dimensions to reveal a family of multipolar Chern-Simons terms and related $θ$-term actions that can be reached via dimensional reduction or extension from the Chern-Simons theories.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Emergent fractons and algebraic quantum liquid from plaquette melting transitions

Paramagnetic spin systems with spontaneously broken spatial symmetries, such as valence bond solid (VBS) phases, can host topological defects carrying non-trivial quantum numbers, which enables the paradigm of deconfined quantum criticality. In this work, we study the properties of topological defects in valence plaquette solid (VPS) phases on square and cubic lattices. We show that the defects of the VPS order parameter, in addition to possessing non-trivial quantum numbers, have fracton mobility constraints deep in the VPS phase, which has been overlooked previously. The spinon inside a single vortex cannot move freely in any direction, while a dipolar pair of vortices with spinon pairs can only move perpendicular to its dipole moment. These mobility constraints, while they persist, can potentially inhibit the condensation of vortices and preclude a continuous transition from the VPS to the Néel antiferromagnet. Instead, the VPS melting transition can be driven by proliferation of spinon dipoles. For example, we argue that a $2d$ VPS can melt into a stable gapless phase in the form of an algebraic bond liquid with algebraic correlations and long range entanglement. Such a bond liquid phase yields a concrete example of the elusive $2d$ Bose metal with symmetry fractionalization. We also study $3d$ valence plaquette and valence cube ordered phase, and demonstrate that the topological defects therein also have fractonic dynamics. Possible nearby phases after melting the valence plaquettes or cubes are also discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Higher-order topological phase without crystalline symmetry

A wide variety of higher-order symmetry protected topological phase(HOSPT) with gapless corners or hinges had been proposed as a descendant of topological crystalline insulator protected by spatial symmetry. In this work, we address a new class of higher-order topological state which does not require crystalline symmetries but instead relies on subsystem symmetry for protection. We propose several strong interacting models with gapless hinge or corner based on a `decorated hinge-wall condensate' picture. The hinge-wall, which appears as the defect configuration of $Z_2$ paramagnet is decorated with lower-dim SPT state. Such unique hinge-wall decoration structure leads to gapped surfaces separated by gapless hinges. The non-trivial nature of the hinge modes can be captured by a $1+1$D conformal field theory with a Wess-Zumino-Witten term. Besides, we establish a no-go theorem to demonstrate the ungappable nature of the hinge by making a connection between generalized Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem and the boundary anomaly of HOSPT state. This universal correspondence engenders a comprehensive criterion to determine the existence of HOSPT under certain symmetry regardless of the microscopic Hamiltonian.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Fractonic Chern-Simons and BF theories

Fracton order is an intriguing new type of order which shares many common features with topological order, such as topology-dependent ground state degeneracies, and excitations with mutual statistics. However, it also has several distinctive geometrical aspects, such as excitations with restricted mobility, which naturally lead to effective descriptions in terms of higher rank gauge fields. In this paper, we investigate possible effective field theories for 3D fracton order, by presenting a general philosophy whereby topological-like actions for such higher-rank gauge fields can be constructed. Our approach draws inspiration from Chern-Simons and BF theories in 2+1 dimensions, and imposes constraints binding higher-rank gauge charge to higher-rank gauge flux. We show that the resulting fractonic Chern-Simons and BF theories reproduce many of the interesting features of their familiar 2D cousins. We analyze one example of the resulting fractonic Chern-Simons theory in detail, and show that upon quantization it realizes a gapped fracton order with quasiparticle excitations that are mobile only along a sub-set of 1-dimensional lines, and display a form of fractional self-statistics. The ground state degeneracy of this theory is both topology- and geometry- dependent, scaling exponentially with the linear system size when the model is placed on a 3-dimensional torus. By studying the resulting quantum theory on the lattice, we show that it describes a $\mathbb{Z}_s$ generalization of the Chamon code.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Non-Abelian defects in Fracton phase of matter

Fracton phase of matter host fractionalized topological quasiparticles with restricted mobility. A wide variety of fracton models with abelian excitations had been proposed and extensively studied while the candidates for non-Abelian fracton phases are less explored. In this work, we investigate the effect of twisted defect in abelian fracton models. The twisted defect is launched by introducing a branch cut line hosting anyon condensate. In particular, these twisted defects, which alter different types of quasiparticles, carry projective non-Abelian zero modes. En route, such defects can be engineered via strong onsite hybridization along a branch cut which provides wide tunability and flexibility in experiment platforms. The braiding of twisted defects with projective non-Abelian Berry phase renders a new avenue toward fault-tolerant quantum computation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Majorana Quantum Lego, a Route Towards Fracton Matter

Fracton topological phases host fractionalized topological quasiparticles with restricted mobility, with promising applications to fault-tolerant quantum computation. While a variety of exactly solvable fracton models have been proposed, there is a need for platforms to realize them experimentally. We show that a rich set of fracton phases emerges in interacting Majorana band models whose building blocks are within experimental reach. Specifically, our Majorana constructions overcome a principal obstacle, namely the implementation of the complicated spin cluster interactions underlying fracton stabilizer codes. The basic building blocks of the proposed constructions include Coulomb blockaded Majorana islands and weak inter-island Majorana hybridizations. This setting produces a wide variety of fracton states and promises numerous opportunities for probing and controlling fracton phases experimentally. Our approach also reveals the relation between fracton phases and Majorana fermion codes and further generates a hierarchy of fracton spin liquids.

cond-mat.str-el↗