Deconfining Disordered Phase in Two-Dimensional Quantum Link Models

authored by: Lorenzo Cardarelli, Sebastian Greschner, Luis Santos
Abstract: We explore the ground-state physics of two-dimensional spin-1/2 U(1) quantum link models, one of the simplest nontrivial lattice gauge theories with fermionic matter within experimental reach for quantum simulations. Whereas in the large mass limit we observe Neél-like vortex-antivortex and striped crystalline phases, for small masses there is a transition from the striped phases into a disordered phase whose properties resemble those at the Rokhsar-Kivelson point of the quantum dimer model. This phase is characterized on ladders by boundary Haldane-like properties, such as vanishing parity and finite string ordering. Moreover, from studies of the string tension between gauge charges, we find that, whereas the striped phases are confined, the novel disordered phase present clear indications of being deconfined. Our results open exciting perspectives of studying highly nontrivial physics in quantum simulators, such as spin-liquid behavior and confinement-deconfinement transitions, without the need of explicitly engineering plaquette terms.
Organisation(s): Institute of Theoretical Physics
QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s): University of Geneva
Type: Article
Journal: Physical Review Letters
Volume: 124
No. of pages: 5
ISSN: 0031-9007
Publication date: 23.03.2020
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy(all)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1910.12829 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.123601 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@article{14fc2ba441b0452683262b9a698d9d4b,
title = "Deconfining Disordered Phase in Two-Dimensional Quantum Link Models",
abstract = "We explore the ground-state physics of two-dimensional spin-1/2 U(1) quantum link models, one of the simplest nontrivial lattice gauge theories with fermionic matter within experimental reach for quantum simulations. Whereas in the large mass limit we observe Ne{\'e}l-like vortex-antivortex and striped crystalline phases, for small masses there is a transition from the striped phases into a disordered phase whose properties resemble those at the Rokhsar-Kivelson point of the quantum dimer model. This phase is characterized on ladders by boundary Haldane-like properties, such as vanishing parity and finite string ordering. Moreover, from studies of the string tension between gauge charges, we find that, whereas the striped phases are confined, the novel disordered phase present clear indications of being deconfined. Our results open exciting perspectives of studying highly nontrivial physics in quantum simulators, such as spin-liquid behavior and confinement-deconfinement transitions, without the need of explicitly engineering plaquette terms.",
author = "Lorenzo Cardarelli and Sebastian Greschner and Luis Santos",
note = "Funding information: We thank Alessio Celi and Marcello Dalmonte for enlightening discussions. S. G. acknowledges support by the Swiss National Science Foundation under Division II. L. C. and L. S. thank the support of the German Research Foundation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Project No. SA 1031/10-1 and the Excellence Cluster QuantumFrontiers). Simulations were carried out on the cluster system at the Leibniz University of Hannover and the Baobab cluster of the University of Geneva.",
year = "2020",
month = mar,
day = "23",
doi = "10.48550/arXiv.1910.12829",
language = "English",
volume = "124",
journal = "Physical Review Letters",
issn = "0031-9007",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "12",
}