Chiral Operators Research Articles

Topological characterization and stability of Floquet Majorana modes in Rashba nanowires

We theoretically investigate a practically realizable Floquet topological superconductor model based on a one-dimensional Rashba nanowire and proximity-induced $s$-wave superconductivity in the presence of a Zeeman field. The driven system hosts regular 0-Majorana end modes and anomalous $\ensuremath{\pi}$-Majorana end modes (MEMs). By tuning the chemical potential and the frequency of the drive, we illustrate the generation of multiple MEMs in our theoretical setup. We utilize the chiral symmetry operator to topologically characterize these MEMs via a dynamical winding number constructed out of the periodized evolution operator. Interestingly, the robustness of the 0- and $\ensuremath{\pi}$-MEMs is established in the presence of on-site time-independent random disorder potential. We employ the twisted boundary condition to define the dynamical topological invariant for this translational-symmetry broken system. The interplay between the Floquet driving and the weak disorder can stabilize the MEMs, giving rise to a quantized value of the dynamical winding number for a finite range of drive parameters. This observation might be experimentally helpful in scrutinizing the topological nature of the Floquet MEMs. We showcase another driving protocol, namely, a periodic kick in the chemical potential, to study the generation of Floquet MEMs in our setup. Our work paves a realistic way to engineer multiple MEMs in a driven system.

Flat band based multifractality in the all-band-flat diamond chain

We study the effect of quasiperiodic Aubry-Andr\'e disorder on the energy spectrum and eigenstates of a one-dimensional all-bands-flat (ABF) diamond chain. The ABF diamond chain possesses three dispersionless flat bands with all the eigenstates compactly localized on two unit cells in the zero disorder limit. The fate of the compact localized states in the presence of the disorder depends on the symmetry of the applied potential. We consider two cases here: a symmetric one, where the same disorder is applied to the top and bottom sites of a unit cell and an antisymmetric one, where the disorder applied to the top and bottom sites are of equal magnitude but with opposite signs. Remarkably, the symmetrically perturbed lattice preserves compact localization, although the degeneracy is lifted. When the lattice is perturbed antisymmetrically, not only is the degeneracy is lifted but compact localization is also destroyed. Fascinatingly, all eigenstates exhibit a multifractal nature below a critical strength of the applied potential. A central band of eigenstates continue to display an extended yet non-ergodic behaviour for arbitrarily large strengths of the potential. All other eigenstates exhibit the familiar Anderson localization above the critical potential strength. We show how the antisymmetric disordered model can be mapped to a $\frac{\pi}{4}$ rotated square lattice with nearest and selective next-nearest neighbour hopping and a staggered magnetic field - such models have been shown to exhibit multifractality. Surprisingly, the antisymmetric disorder (with an even number of unit cells) preserves chiral symmetry - we show this by explicitly writing down the chiral operator.

A derivation of the planar limit of mathcal{N} = 2 chiral correlators

We derive analytically the terms of maximal transcendentality of the planar 2- and 3-point functions of single-trace chiral primary operators of mathcal{N} = 2 SQCD on ℝ4, to all orders in the ’t Hooft coupling. These results prove two conjectures we formulated in previous work. Furthermore, we also provide an explicit expression for the terms in the planar 2-point functions of these operators that contain products of two values of the ζ function.

On the spectral sets of Inoue surfaces

The Inoue surfaces are certain non-Kaehler complex surfaces that have the structure of a $T^3$ bundle over the circle. We study the Inoue surfaces $S_M$ with the Tricerri metric and the canonical spin$^c$ structure, and the corresponding chiral Dirac operators twisted by a flat $\mathbb C^*$--connection. The twisting connection is determined by $z \in \mathbb C^*$, and the points for which the twisted Dirac operators $\mathcal D^{\pm}_z$ are not invertible are called spectral points. We show that there are no spectral points inside the annulus $\alpha^{-1/4} < |z| < \alpha^{1/4}$, where $\alpha >1$ is the only real eigenvalue of the matrix $M$ that determines $S_M$, and find the spectral points on its boundary. Via Taubes' theory of end-periodic operators, this implies that the corresponding Dirac operators are Fredholm on any end-periodic manifold whose end is modeled on $S_M$.

Semiclassics of three-dimensional SCFTs from holography

We use holography to compute the large-N effective field theory along the moduli space of vacua of an infinite class of three-dimensional mathcal{N} = 2 SCFTs admitting a dual M-theory description. We focus in particular on toric models and show how the spectrum of large R-charge SCFT chiral scalar operators corresponds to a set of explicit semiclassical solutions of our effective field theory, which describe bound states of backreacting giant gravitons and baryonic-like M5-branes. Our semiclassical description allows for a direct computation of the scaling dimensions of these operators and provides a starting point for a semiclassical investigation of the SCFT data in the large R-charge sector. We consider the models corresponding to the Y12(ℙ2) and Q111 Sasaki-Einstein spaces as explicit examples.

Nonsymmorphic chiral symmetry and solitons in the Rice-Mele model

The Rice-Mele model has two topological and spatially-inversion symmetric phases, namely the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) phase with alternating hopping only, and the charge-density-wave (CDW) phase with alternating energies only. The chiral symmetry of the SSH phase is robust in position space, so that it is preserved in the presence of the ends of a finite system and of textures in the alternating hopping. However, the chiral symmetry of the CDW wave phase is nonsymmorphic, resulting in a breaking of the bulk topology by an end or a texture in the alternating energies. We consider the presence of solitons (textures in position space separating two degenerate ground states) in finite systems with open boundary conditions. We identify the parameter range under which an atomically-sharp soliton in the CDW phase supports a localized state which lies within the band gap, and we calculate the expectation value $p_y$ of the nonsymmorphic chiral operator for this state, and the soliton electric charge. As the spatial extent of the soliton increases beyond the atomic limit, the energy level approaches zero exponentially quickly or inversely proportionally to the width, depending on microscopic details of the soliton texture. In both cases, the difference of $p_y$ from one is inversely proportional to the soliton width, while the charge is independent of the width. We investigate the robustness of the soliton level in the presence of disorder and sample-to-sample parameter variations, comparing with a single soliton level in the SSH phase with an odd number of sites.

Strong coupling expansion in \U0001d4a9 = 2 superconformal theories and the Bessel kernel

We consider strong ’t Hooft coupling expansion in special four-dimensional \U0001d4a9 = 2 superconformal models that are planar-equivalent to \U0001d4a9 = 4 super Yang-Mills theory. Various observables in these models that admit localization matrix model representation can be expressed at large N in terms of a Fredholm determinant of a Bessel operator. The latter previously appeared in the study of level spacing distributions in matrix models and, more recently, in four-point correlation functions of infinitely heavy half-BPS operators in planar \U0001d4a9 = 4 SYM. We use this relation and a suitably generalized Szegő-Akhiezer-Kac formula to derive the strong ’t Hooft coupling expansion of the leading corrections to free energy, half-BPS circular Wilson loop, and certain correlators of chiral primaries operators in the \U0001d4a9 = 2 models. This substantially generalizes partial results in the literature and represents a challenge for dual string theory calculations in AdS/CFT context. We also demonstrate that the resulting strong-coupling expansions suffer from Borel singularities and require adding non-perturbative, exponentially suppressed corrections. As a byproduct of our analysis, we determine the non-perturbative correction to the above mentioned four-point correlator in planar \U0001d4a9 = 4 SYM.

Wilson loops in large symmetric representations through a double-scaling limit

We derive exact formulas for circular Wilson loops in the mathcal{N} = 4 and mathcal{N} = 2* theories with gauge groups U(N) and SU(N) in the k-fold symmetrized product representation. The formulas apply in the limit of large k and small Yang-Mills coupling g, with fixed effective coupling κ ≡ g2k, and for any finite N. In the SU(2) and U(2) cases, closed analytic formulas are obtained for any k, while the 1/k series expansions are asymptotic. In the N ≫ 1 limit, with N ≪ k, there is an overlapping regime where the formulas can be confronted with results from holography. Simple formulas for correlation functions between the k-symmetric Wilson loops and chiral primary operators are also given.

Quantum coordinate ring in WZW model and affine vertex algebra extensions

In this paper, we construct various simple vertex superalgebras which are extensions of affine vertex algebras, by using abelian cocycle twists of representation categories of quantum groups. This solves the Creutzig and Gaiotto conjectures (Creutzig and Gaiotto in Comm Math Phys 379:785–845, 2020, Conjecture 1.1 and 1.4) in the case of type ABC. If the twist is trivial, the resulting algebras correspond to chiral differential operators in the chiral case, and to WZW models in the non-chiral case.

Bootstrapping monodromy defects in the Wess-Zumino model

We use analytical bootstrap techniques to study supersymmetric monodromy defects in the critical Wess-Zumino model. In preparation for this result we first study two related systems which are interesting on their own: general monodromy defects (no susy), and the ε-expansion bootstrap for the Wess-Zumino model (no defects). For general monodromy defects, we extend previous work on codimension-two conformal blocks and the Lorentzian inversion formula in order to accommodate parity-odd structures. In the Wess-Zumino model, we bootstrap four-point functions of chiral operators in the ε-expansion, with the goal of obtaining spectral information about the bulk theory. We then proceed to bootstrap two-point functions of chiral operators in the presence of a monodromy defect, and obtain explicit expressions in terms of novel special functions which we analyze in detail. Several of the results presented in this paper are quite general and should be applicable to other setups.

Topological study of a Bogoliubov–de Gennes system of pseudo-spin- 1/2 bosons with conserved magnetization in a honeycomb lattice

We consider a Bogolibov-de Geenes (BdG) Hamiltonian, which is a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian with pseudo-Hermiticity, for a system of (pseudo) spin-$1/2$ bosons in a honeycomb lattice under the condition that the population difference between the two spin components, i.e., magnetization, is a constant. Such a system is capable of acting as a topological amplifier, under time-reversal symmetry, with stable bulk bands but unstable edge modes which can be populated at an exponentially fast rate. We quantitatively study the topological properties of this model within the framework of the 38-fold way for non-Hermitian systems. We find, through the symmetry analysis of the Bloch Hamiltonian, that this model is classified either as two copies of symmetry class AIII+$\eta_-$ or two copies of symmetry class A+$\eta$ depending on whether the (total) system is time-reversal-symmetric, where $\eta$ is the matrix representing pseudo-Hermiticity and $\eta_-$ indicates that pseudo-Hermiticity and chiral symmetry operators anticommute. We prove, within the context of non-Hermitian physics where eigenstates obey the bi-orthonormality relation, that a stable bulk is characterized by a single topological invariant, the Chern number for the Haldane model, independent of pairing interactions. We construct a convenient analytical description for the edge modes of the Haldane model in semi-infinite planes, which is expected to be useful for models built upon copies of the Haldane model across a broad array of disciplines. We adapt the theorem in our recent work [Phys. Rev. A 104, 013305 (2021)] to pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians that are less restrictive than BdG Hamiltonians and apply it to highlight that the vanishing of an unconventional commutator between number-conserving and number-nonconserving parts of the Hamiltonian indicates whether a system can be made to act as a topological amplifier.

Spectral triple with real structure on fuzzy sphere

In this paper, we have illustrated the construction of a real structure on a fuzzy sphere S*2 in its spin-1/2 representation. Considering the SU(2) covariant Dirac and chirality operator on S*2 given by U. C. Watamura and Watamura [Commun. Math. Phys. 183, 365–382 (1997) and Commun. Math. Phys. 212, 395–413 (2000)], we have shown that the real structure is consistent with other spectral data for KO dimension-4 fulfilling the zero order condition, where we find it necessary to enlarge the symmetry group from SO(3) to the full orthogonal group O(3). However, the first order condition is violated, thus paving the way to construct a toy model for an SU(2) gauge theory to capture some features of physics beyond the standard model following Chamseddine et al. (J. High Energy Phys. 2013, 132).

Identification of a Kitaev quantum spin liquid by magnetic field angle dependence

Quantum spin liquids realize massive entanglement and fractional quasiparticles from localized spins, proposed as an avenue for quantum science and technology. In particular, topological quantum computations are suggested in the non-abelian phase of Kitaev quantum spin liquid with Majorana fermions, and detection of Majorana fermions is one of the most outstanding problems in modern condensed matter physics. Here, we propose a concrete way to identify the non-abelian Kitaev quantum spin liquid by magnetic field angle dependence. Topologically protected critical lines exist on a plane of magnetic field angles, and their shapes are determined by microscopic spin interactions. A chirality operator plays a key role in demonstrating microscopic dependences of the critical lines. We also show that the chirality operator can be used to evaluate topological properties of the non-abelian Kitaev quantum spin liquid without relying on Majorana fermion descriptions. Experimental criteria for the non-abelian spin liquid state are provided for future experiments.

Wilson loop correlators in mathcal{N} = 2 superconformal quivers

We complete the program of [1] about perturbative approaches for mathcal{N} = 2 superconformal quiver theories in four dimensions. We consider several classes of observables in presence of Wilson loops, and we evaluate them with the help of supersymmetric localization. We compute Wilson loop vacuum expectation values, correlators of multiple coincident Wilson loops and one-point functions of chiral operators in presence of them acting as superconformal defects. We extend this analysis to the most general case considering chiral operators and multiple Wilson loops scattered in all the possible ways among the vector multiplets of the quiver. Finally, we identify twisted and untwisted observables which probe the orbifold of AdS5 × S5 with the aim of testing possible holographic perspectives of quiver theories in mathcal{N} = 2.

Classification of large N superconformal gauge theories with a dense spectrum

We classify the large N limits of four-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories with simple gauge groups that flow to superconformal fixed points. We restrict ourselves to the ones without a superpotential and with a fixed flavor symmetry. We find 35 classes in total, with 8 having a dense spectrum of chiral gauge-invariant operators. The central charges a and c for the dense theories grow linearly in N in contrast to the N2 growth for the theories with a sparse spectrum. The difference between the central charges a − c can have both signs, and it does not vanish in the large N limit for the dense theories. We find that there can be multiple bands separated by a gap, or a discrete spectrum above the band. We also find a criterion on the matter content for the fixed point theory to possess either a dense or sparse spectrum. We discover a few curious aspects regarding supersymmetric RG flows and a-maximization along the way. For all the theories with the dense spectrum, the AdS version of the Weak Gravity Conjecture (including the convex hull condition for the cases with multiple U(1)’s) holds for large enough N even though they do not have weakly-coupled gravity duals.

Understanding the index theorems with massive fermions

The index theorems relate the gauge field and metric on a manifold to the solution of the Dirac equation on it. In the standard approach, the Dirac operator must be massless to make the chirality operator well defined. In physics, however, the index theorem appears as a consequence of chiral anomaly, which is an explicit breaking of the symmetry. It is then natural to ask if we can understand the index theorems in a massive fermion system which does not have chiral symmetry. In this review, we discuss how to reformulate the chiral anomaly and index theorems with massive Dirac operators, where we find nontrivial mathematical relations between massless and massive fermions. A special focus is placed on the Atiyah–Patodi–Singer index, whose original formulation requires a physicist-unfriendly boundary condition, while the corresponding massive domain-wall fermion reformulation does not. The massive formulation provides a natural understanding of the anomaly inflow between the bulk and edge in particle and condensed matter physics.

Chiral differential operators on the upper half plane and modular forms

In this paper we study the vertex operator algebra Dch(H,Γ) constructed from the fixed points of the chiral differential operators on the upper half plane which is holomorphic at all the cusps, under the action of a congruence subgroup Γ. To this end, we introduce an SL(2,R)-invariant filtration labeled by partition pairs and study its successive quotient. We show that the successive quotient under the cuspidal condition is isomorphic to the space of modular forms. We also give a description of the structure of Dch(H,Γ) and compute its character.

The planar limit of mathcal{N} = 2 chiral correlators

We derive the planar limit of 2- and 3-point functions of single-trace chiral primary operators of mathcal{N} = 2 SQCD on S4, to all orders in the ’t Hooft coupling. In order to do so, we first obtain a combinatorial expression for the planar free energy of a hermitian matrix model with an infinite number of arbitrary single and double trace terms in the potential; this solution might have applications in many other contexts. We then use these results to evaluate the analogous planar correlation functions on ℝ4. Specifically, we compute all the terms with a single value of the ζ function for a few planar 2- and 3-point functions, and conjecture general formulas for these terms for all 2- and 3-point functions on ℝ4.

Chiral symmetry and taste symmetry from the eigenvalue spectrum of staggered Dirac operators

We investigate general properties of the eigenvalue spectrum for improved staggered quarks. We introduce a new chirality operator $[{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}1]$ and a new shift operator $[1\ensuremath{\bigotimes}{\ensuremath{\xi}}_{5}]$, which respect the same recursion relation as the ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}$ operator in the continuum. Then we show that matrix elements of the chirality operator sandwiched between two eigenstates of the staggered Dirac operator are related to those of the shift operator by the Ward identity of the conserved $U(1{)}_{A}$ symmetry of staggered fermion actions. We perform a numerical study in quenched QCD using HYP staggered quarks to demonstrate the Ward identity. We introduce a new concept of leakage patterns which collectively represent the matrix elements of the chirality operator and the shift operator sandwiched between two eigenstates of the staggered Dirac operator. The leakage pattern provides a new method to identify zero modes and nonzero modes in the Dirac eigenvalue spectrum. This method is as robust as the spectral flow method but requires much less computing power. Analysis using a machine learning technique confirms that the leakage pattern is universal, since the staggered Dirac eigenmodes on normal gauge configurations respect it. In addition, the leakage pattern can be used to determine a ratio of renormalization factors as a by-product. We conclude that it might be possible and realistic to measure the topological charge $Q$ using the Atiya-Singer index theorem and the leakage pattern of the chirality operator in the staggered fermion formalism.

Universal Scale Factors: A Bridge Between Chiral Lagrangians and QCD Sum-Rules

Chiral Lagrangian mesonic fields can be connected to QCD quark operators via matrix operators containing scale factors. These scale factor matrices are shown to be constrained by chiral symmetry, resulting in a universal scale factor for each chiral Lagrangian nonet. QCD sum-rules, combined with mixing angles from Chiral Lagrangian analyses, are used to determine the scale factors for the a0 isotriplet and K*0 isodoublet scalar mesons. The resulting scale factors verify the universality property, providing a validation of the scale factor matrices connecting Chiral Lagrangian mesonic fields and quark operators.