PIRSA:10110065

Torsion as a Probe in Condensed Matter Systems

Hughes, T. (2010). Torsion as a Probe in Condensed Matter Systems. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/10110065

Hughes, Taylor. Torsion as a Probe in Condensed Matter Systems. Perimeter Institute, Nov. 12, 2010, https://pirsa.org/10110065 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:10110065,
            doi = {10.48660/10110065},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/10110065},
            author = {Hughes, Taylor},
            keywords = {Condensed Matter},
            language = {en},
            title = {Torsion as a Probe in Condensed Matter Systems},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2010},
            month = {nov},
            note = {PIRSA:10110065 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Taylor Hughes University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

DOI 10.48660/10110065
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

: In this talk I will review the common appearance of torsion in solids as well as some new developments. Torsion typically appears in condensed matter physics associated to topological defects known as dislocations. Now we are beginning to uncover new aspects of the coupling of torsion to materials. Recently, a dissipationless viscosity has been studied in the quantum Hall effect. I will connect this viscosity to a 2+1-d torsion Chern-Simons term and discuss possible thought experiments in which this could be measured. Additionally I will discuss a new topological defect in 3+1-d, the torsional monopole, which does not require a lattice deformation to exist. If present, torsional monopoles are likely to impact the behavior of materials with strong spin-orbit coupling such as topological insulators.