Emergent Gauge Fields and Topology in Quantum Matter

Seminar
QUEST Center event
No
Speaker
Ashvin Vishwanath/Harvard University
Date
07/12/2020 - 19:00 - 18:00Add to Calendar 2020-12-07 18:00:00 2020-12-07 19:00:00 Emergent Gauge Fields and Topology in Quantum Matter Zoom Meeting ID:  939 0317 8346, Password: 326163 For decades, condensed matter systems have been studied within the framework of classical order parameters - i.e. the Landau-Wilson paradigm.  This has been recently extended with the rather complete understanding of topological states of noninteracting electrons. In this talk  I will focus instead on new physics that arises from the interplay of topology and strong interactions. A unifying theme will be the emergence of gauge fields rather than the classical order parameters of Landau theory. I will illustrate these general themes with two recent works. The first  proposes a route to realizing  a long sought after phase - the Z2 quantum spin  liquid - in a synthetic platform, an array of  highly excited (Rydberg) atoms [1]. A potential application to the engineering of naturally fault tolerant quantum bits will also be described. The second example describes a topological route to strong coupling superconductivity [2], which was inspired by  recent experimental observations in magic angle  bilayer graphene and related devices. [1] arXiv:2011.12310. Prediction of Toric Code Topological Order from Rydberg Blockade. Authors: R. Verresen, M. Lukin and A. Vishwanath. [2]arXiv:2004.00638. Charged Skyrmions and Topological Origin of Superconductivity in Magic Angle Graphene.  ZOOM Department of Physics physics.dept@mail.biu.ac.il Asia/Jerusalem public
Place
ZOOM
Abstract

Zoom Meeting ID:  939 0317 8346, Password: 326163

For decades, condensed matter systems have been studied within the framework of classical order parameters - i.e. the Landau-Wilson paradigm.  This has been recently extended with the rather complete understanding of topological states of noninteracting electrons. In this talk  I will focus instead on new physics that arises from the interplay of topology and strong interactions. A unifying theme will be the emergence of gauge fields rather than the classical order parameters of Landau theory. I will illustrate these general themes with two recent works. The first  proposes a route to realizing  a long sought after phase - the Z2 quantum spin  liquid - in a synthetic platform, an array of  highly excited (Rydberg) atoms [1]. A potential application to the engineering of naturally fault tolerant quantum bits will also be described. The second example describes a topological route to strong coupling superconductivity [2], which was inspired by  recent experimental observations in magic angle  bilayer graphene and related devices.

[1] arXiv:2011.12310. Prediction of Toric Code Topological Order from Rydberg Blockade.
Authors: R.
Verresen, M. Lukin and A. Vishwanath.
[2]arXiv:2004.00638. Charged
Skyrmions and Topological Origin of Superconductivity in Magic Angle Graphene. 

Last Updated Date : 05/12/2022