PIRSA:14100113

Numerical Study of a Bosonic Topological Insulator in Three Dimensions

Geraedts, S. (2014). Numerical Study of a Bosonic Topological Insulator in Three Dimensions. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/14100113

Geraedts, Scott. Numerical Study of a Bosonic Topological Insulator in Three Dimensions. Perimeter Institute, Oct. 21, 2014, https://pirsa.org/14100113 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:14100113,
            doi = {10.48660/14100113},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/14100113},
            author = {Geraedts, Scott},
            keywords = {Condensed Matter},
            language = {en},
            title = {Numerical Study of a Bosonic Topological Insulator in Three Dimensions},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2014},
            month = {oct},
            note = {PIRSA:14100113 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Scott Geraedts California Institute of Technology

DOI 10.48660/14100113
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

We construct a model which realizes a (3+1)-dimensional symmetry-protected topological phase of bosons with U(1) charge conservation and time reversal symmetry, envisioned by A. Vishwanath and T. Senthil [PRX 4 011016]. Our model works by introducing an additional spin degree of freedom, and binding its hedgehogs to a species of charged bosons. We study the model using Monte Carlo and determine its bulk phase diagram; the phase where the bound states of hedgehogs and charges condense is the topological phase, and we demonstrate this by observing a Witten effect. We also study the surface phase diagram on a (2+1)-dimensional boundary between the topological and trivial insulators. We find a number of exotic phases on the surface, including exotic superfluids, a phase with a Hall conductivity quantized to half the value possible in 2D, and a phase with intrinsic topological order. We also find a new bulk phase with intrinsic topological order.