1
vote
0answers
32 views

How to understand topological order at finite temperature?

I have heard that in 2+1D, there are no topological order in finite temperature. Topological entanglement entropy $\gamma$ is zero except in zero temperature. However, we still observe some features ...
4
votes
0answers
49 views

How to understand Modular transformation in topological order?

Topological order in (2+1)D is described by its ground state degeneracy and the braiding statistics and topological spins of excitations. People believe that these information is all encoded in ground ...
2
votes
0answers
52 views

Is it possible to have topological degeneracy in 1D ?

I mean to have q-fold degenerate ground states on a ring which could not be lifted by local perturbation. If the answer is no, then what is the physical (or mathematical) reason against having such ...
6
votes
0answers
119 views

Some questions about anyons?

(1) As we know, we have theories of second quantization for both bosons and fermions. That is, let $W_N$ be the $N$ identical particle Hilbert space of bosons or fermions, then the "many particle" ...
5
votes
1answer
156 views

A question on the doped Kitaev-Heisenberg model?

Recently, some groups have studied the effects of doping the Kitaev model on honeycomb lattice(e.g.,http://arxiv.org/abs/1109.6681 and http://arxiv.org/abs/1109.4155) and their calculations show the ...
9
votes
1answer
193 views

What is the “BCS Cooper pair condensation” as a physical phenomenon in terms of experiments?

"Thought" experiments and "numerical" experiments are allowed. This question is motivated by the question Has BCS Cooper pair condensate been observed in experiment? , and by our recent research on ...
10
votes
2answers
488 views

Basic questions in Majorana fermions

Why any fermion can be written as a combination of two Majorana fermions? Is there any physical meaning in it? Why Majorana fermion can be used for topological quantum computation?
4
votes
1answer
183 views

Chiral edge state as topological properity of bulk state

As far as I know, quantum hall effect and quantum spin hall effect has chiral edge state. Chiral edge state is usually closely related with delocalization, since back scattering is forbidden. However, ...
10
votes
2answers
353 views

Why quantum hall effect has chiral edge state?

The most popular explaination may be the following: in magnetic field, electrons move in cycolotron orbits, such cycolotron orbits ensure electrons to move in one direction at the edge. That is why ...
4
votes
1answer
120 views

Notation in Spin Liquid

When construct spin liquid by projective symmetry group, we can classified spin liquids by the invariant group (IGG) of their mean field ansatze. For example, we can have Z2, U(1) and SU(2) spin ...
6
votes
1answer
150 views

Chiral coupling in string-nets

In Xiao-Gang Wen's review of topological order http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.1281 , he states in footnote 52 that string-nets are so far unable to produce the chiral coupling between the SU(2) gauge boson ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views

Measurement of topological spin

How do you measure the topological spin of an anyon? So how could an experimental setup look like? Is topological spin an observable at all?
6
votes
1answer
110 views

String-net condensation in 3D

In 2D and 3D quibit models, string-net condensation can happen. In 3D or higher models, is it possible for surfaces (instead of just strings) to condense?
5
votes
2answers
443 views

Why are Topological Superconductors hard to make?

Topological insulators (TI) have already been made in lab. Topological superconductors (TSC), being close cousins of TI, seem harder to make. Why is that? It seems that materials in connection with ...
6
votes
1answer
301 views

Realization of Witten-type topological quantum field theory in condensed matter physics

It is well-known that some exotic phases in condensed matter physics are described by Schwarz-type TQFTs, such as Chern-Simons theory of quantum Hall states. My question is whether there are condensed ...
1
vote
1answer
159 views

$Z_2 $ topological index in spin liquid

What is $Z_2 $ topological index in spin liquid system? How to understand its physical picture in condensed matter?
7
votes
1answer
287 views

What is topological degeneracy in condensed matter physics?

What is topological degeneracy in strongly correlated systems such as FQH? What is the difference between topological degeneracy and ordinary degeneracy? Why is topological degeneracy important for ...
5
votes
1answer
329 views

Topological Order and Entanglement

I have a question about entanglement in condensed matter physics. It seems that topological order origins from long range entanglement, but what is long range entanglement? It is the same as long ...
7
votes
1answer
568 views

Is resonating valence bond (RVB) states long-range entangled?

Quantum liquid is at the core of condensed matter theory study, examples include superfluid in Bose Hubbard model, quantum spin liquid around the RK point of a quantum dimer model, string-net ...
5
votes
0answers
169 views

Quasi 1D insulators with strong spin-orbital interaction

We know that the spin-1 chain realizes the Haldane phase which is an example of symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases (ie short-range entangled phases with symmetry). The Haldane phase is ...
4
votes
1answer
587 views

What is the relationship between string net theory and string / M-theory?

I've just learned from this one of Prof. Wen's answers that there exists a theory called string net theory. Since I've never heard about this before it picks my curiosity, so I`d like to ask some ...
4
votes
1answer
325 views

A physical understanding of fractionalization

all! Is there a physical understanding of fractionalization in condensed matter physics? The textbook approach is theoretical, not physical. I'm thinking of spin-charge separation for electrons, the ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views

Quantum Hall effect for dummies

In the past few days I've become increasingly intrigued by the QHE, mainly thanks to very interesting questions and answers that have appeared here. Unfortunately, I am as of yet very confused by all ...
15
votes
5answers
1k views

Simple models that exhibit topological phase transitions

There are a number of physical systems with phases described by topologically protected invariants (fractional quantum Hall, topological insulators) but what are the simplest mathematical models that ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views

What is a resonating valence bond (RVB) state?

There's something known as a "resonating valence bond" (RVB) state, which plays a role in at least some attempts to understand physics of high-$T_c$ superconductors. This, roughly, involves a state ...