Condensed Matter

Quantum Monte Carlo methods, when applicable, offer reliable ways to extract the nonperturbative physics of strongly-correlated many-body systems. However, there are some bottlenecks to the applicability of these methods including the sign problem and algorithmic update inefficiencies. Using the t-V model Hamiltonian as the example, I demonstrate how the Fermion Bag Approach--originally developed in the context of lattice field theories--has aided in solving the sign problem for this model as well as aided in developing a more efficient algorithm to study the model. Finally, I discuss some other potential uses for the new algorithm, including for a broader class of models known to be sign-problem-free due to fermion bag ideas.

In this talk, I will discuss how to assign geometries, such as metric tensors, to certain tensor networks using quantum entanglement and tensor Radon transform. In addition, we show that behaviour similar to linearized gravity can naturally emerge in said tensor networks, provided a modified version of Jacobson's entanglement equilibrium is satisfied. Since the aforementioned properties can be reached without relying on AdS/CFT, the approach also shows promise towards constructing tensor network models for cosmological spacetimes. 

Periodically driven (Floquet) systems can display entirely new many-body phases of matter that have no analog in stationary systems. One such phase is the Floquet time crystal, which spontaneously breaks a discrete time-translation symmetry. In this talk, I will survey the physics of these new phases of matter. I explain how they can be stabilized either through strong quenched disorder (many-body localization), or alternatively in clean systems in a "prethermal" regime which persists until a time that is exponentially long in a small parameter.

"Recently, exactly solvable 3D lattice models have been discovered for a new kind of phase, dubbed fracton topological order, in which the topological excitations are immobile or are bound to lines or surfaces. Unlike liquid topologically ordered phases (e.g. Z_2 gauge theory), which are only sensitive to topology (e.g. the ground state degeneracy only depends on the topology of spatial manifold), fracton orders are also sensitive to the geometry of the lattice. This geometry dependence allows for remarkably new physics which was forbidden in topologically invariant phases of matter.

In this talk, I will review the X-cube model [1] of fracton order. I will then explain how geometry dependence allows for braiding of point-like particles in this 3D phase. I'll summary how the X-cube model can be described by a quantum field theory, which is analogous to a topological quantum field theory (TQFT). [3] We will see that the gauge invariance of the field theory results in the mobility restrictions of the topological excitations by imposing a new kind of geometric charge conservation. I will conclude by briefly discussing current work on the remarkable geometry-dependent phenomenology of fracton order. For example, I will explain why even on a manifold with trivial topology, spatial curvature can induce a robust ground state degeneracy.

[1] Vijay, Haah, Fu 1603.04442

[2] Slagle, Kim 1704.03870"

Tensor network/spacetime correspondences explore the exciting idea that geometric information about a quantum state might be related to the actual geometry that the state describes in a quantum gravitational setting. I will give an overview of a new type of correspondence between global de Sitter spacetime and the MERA. This simple correspondence is already enough to see several features of de Sitter gravity emerge, such as cosmic no-hair and horizon complementarity. I will also comment on some more speculative topics like complexity = action and possible future directions.

I will describe the recently developed bimetric theory of fractional quantum Hall states. It is an effective theory that includes the Chern-Simons term that describes the topological properties of the fractional quantum Hall state, and a non-linear, a la bimetric massive gravity action that describes gapped Girvin-MacDonald-Platzman mode at long wavelengths. The theory reproduces the universal features of the chiral lowest Landau level (LLL) FQH states that lie beyond the reach of pure Chern-Simons theory, such as the projected static structure factor and the Girvin-MacDonald-Platzman algebra. The action of particle-hole transformation on the theory is particularly transparent. Familiar quantum Hall observables acquire a geometric interpretation in the bimetric language

BCS bogoliubon excitations, quantum Hall effect (QHE) and Landau levels (QHE handout)

Quantum critical points (QCP) beyond the Landau-Ginzburg paradigm are often called unconventional QCPs. There are in general two types of unconventional QCP: type I are QCPs between ordered phases that spontaneously break very different symmetries, and type II involve topological (or quasi-topological) phases on at least one side of the QCP. Recently significant progress has been made in understanding (2+1)-dimensional unconventional QCPs, using the recently developed (2+1)d dualities, i.e., seemingly different theories may actually be identical in the infrared limit. One group of dualities between unconventional QCPs have attracted particular interests in the field of condensed matter theory. This group of dualities include the so called deconfined QCP between the Neel and valence bond solid phases, and the topological transition between a bosonic topological insulator and a trivial Mott insulator. Each of the transitions mentioned above is also "self-dual". This group of dualities make extremely powerful predictions for numerical test. We will review the theoretical aspects and most recent numerical evidences for these new results.