Higgs Transition Research Articles

Separation-of-charge confinement and the Higgs transition in SU(3) gauge-Higgs theory

Separation-of-charge confinement and the Higgs transition in SU(3) gauge-Higgs theory

New order parameter for the Higgs transition in SU(2) -Higgs theory

We investigate the Higgs transition within the four-dimensional $SU(2)$-Higgs model in search for an order parameter as a function of the Higgs field hopping parameter, $\ensuremath{\kappa}$, using lattice technique. We measure the Higgs condensate after applying Landau gauge fixing and study the corresponding susceptibility, magnetization, and fourth order Binder cumulant using four different spatial volumes with ${N}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}=2$. The computation is carried out with gauge coupling, ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{g}=8$, for a range of scalar self-coupling, $\ensuremath{\lambda}={0.00010,0.00350}$, with an emphasis near the critical end point. Finite size scaling analysis of the gauge fixed condensate and its cumulants agree with the standard 3D Ising values $\ensuremath{\nu}=0.62997$, $\ensuremath{\beta}/\ensuremath{\nu}=0.518$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}/\ensuremath{\nu}=1.964$ at $\ensuremath{\lambda}=0.00150$. These results are in agreement with previous studies suggesting 3D Ising universality class. The numerical results also indicate that, at the transition point, the gauge fixed condensate vanishes in the infinite volume limit.

Lifshitz gauge duality

Motivated by variety of realizations of the compact Lifshitz model, I predict and explore properties of its three phases, study its phase transitions and derive its fractonic gauge dual. The resulting U(1) vector gauge theory efficiently and robustly encodes the restricted mobility of its dipole conserving charged matter and the corresponding topological vortex defects. The gauge theory provides a transparent formulation of the three phases of the Lifshitz model and gives a field theoretic formulation of the associated two-stage Higgs transitions.

Gauge enhanced quantum criticality beyond the standard model

Standard lore ritualizes our quantum vacuum in the four-dimensional spacetime (4D) governed by one of the candidate Standard Models (SMs), while lifting towards some grand unification-like structure (GUT) at higher energy scales. In contrast, in our work, we introduce an alternative view that the SM is a low energy quantum vacuum arising from various neighbor vacua competition in an immense quantum phase diagram. In general, we can regard the SM arising near the gapless quantum criticality (either critical points or critical regions) between the competing neighbor vacua. In particular detail, we demonstrate how the $su(3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}su(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}u(1)$ SM with 16n Weyl fermions arises near the quantum criticality between the GUT competition of Georgi-Glashow $su(5)$ and Pati-Salam $su(4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}su(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}su(2)$. We propose two enveloping toy models. Model I is the conventional $so(10)$ GUT with a Spin(10) gauge group plus GUT-Higgs potential inducing various Higgs transitions. Model II modifies model I by adding a new 4D discrete torsion class of Wess-Zumino-Witten-like term built from GUT-Higgs field [which matches a nonperturbative global mixed gauge-gravity anomaly captured by a 5D invertible topological field theory ${w}_{2}{w}_{3}(TM)={w}_{2}{w}_{3}({V}_{\mathrm{SO}(10)})$], which manifests a beyond-Landau-Ginzburg quantum criticality between Georgi-Glashow and Pati-Salam models, with extra beyond the Standard Model excitations emerging near a hypothetical quantum critical region. If the internal symmetries were treated as global symmetries (or weakly coupled to probe background fields), we suggest a particular low-energy realization of model II as an analogous gapless 4D deconfined quantum criticality with new beyond the SM fractionalized fragmentary excitations of color-flavor separation, and gauge enhancement including a dark gauge force sector, altogether requiring a double fermionic Spin structure named DSpin. If the internal symmetries are dynamically gauged (as they are in our quantum vacuum), we suggest the model II's 4D criticality as a boundary criticality such that only appropriately gauge enhanced dynamical GUT gauge fields can propagate into an extradimensional 5D bulk. The phenomena may be regarded as SM deformation or ``morphogenesis.'' Although our derivation is based on kinematics and global anomaly matching constraints between UV parent and various candidate IR field theories, the constraints are still highly subtle and suggestive. Future verifications on the IR dynamics will be desirable.

Anisotropic deconfined criticality in Dirac spin liquids

We analyze a Higgs transition from a U(1) Dirac spin liquid to a gapless ℤ2 spin liquid. This ℤ2 spin liquid is of relevance to the spin S = 1/2 square lattice antiferromagnet, where recent numerical studies have given evidence for such a phase existing in the regime of high frustration between nearest neighbor and next-nearest neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions (the J1-J2 model), appearing in a parameter regime between the vanishing of Néel order and the onset of valence bond solid ordering. The proximate Dirac spin liquid is unstable to monopole proliferation on the square lattice, ultimately leading to Néel or valence bond solid ordering. As such, we conjecture that this Higgs transition describes the critical theory separating the gapless ℤ2 spin liquid of the J1-J2 model from one of the two proximate ordered phases. The transition into the other ordered phase can be described in a unified manner via a transition into an unstable SU(2) spin liquid, which we have analyzed in prior work. By studying the deconfined critical theory separating the U(1) Dirac spin liquid from the gapless ℤ2 spin liquid in a 1/Nf expansion, with Nf proportional to the number of fermions, we find a stable fixed point with an anisotropic spinon dispersion and a dynamical critical exponent z ≠ 1. We analyze the consequences of this anisotropic dispersion by calculating the angular profiles of the equal-time Néel and valence bond solid correlation functions, and we find them to be distinct. We also note the influence of the anisotropy on the scaling dimension of monopoles.

Modular curves, the Tate-Shafarevich group and Gopakumar-Vafa invariants with discrete charges

We show that the stringy Kähler moduli space of a generic genus one curve of degree N, for N ≤ 5, is the Γ1(N) modular curve X1(N). This implies a correspondence between the cusps of the modular curves and certain large volume limits in the stringy Kähler moduli spaces of genus one fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds with N-sections. Using Higgs transitions in M-theory and F-theory as well as modular properties of the topological string partition function, we identify these large volume limits with elements of the Tate-Shafarevich group of the genus one fibration. Singular elements appear in the form of non-commutative resolutions with a torsional B-field at the singularity. The topological string amplitudes that arise at the various large volume limits are related by modular transformations. In particular, we find that the topological string partition function of a smooth genus one fibered Calabi-Yau threefold is transformed into that of a non-commutative resolution of the Jacobian by a Fricke involution. In the case of Calabi-Yau threefolds, we propose an expansion of the partition functions of a singular fibration and its non-commutative resolutions in terms of Gopakumar-Vafa invariants that are associated to BPS states with discrete charges. For genus one fibrations with 5-sections, this provides an enumerative interpretation for the partition functions that arise at certain irrational points of maximally unipotent monodromy.

Hidden phases born of a quantum spin liquid: Application to pyrochlore spin ice

Quantum spin liquids (QSL) have generated considerable excitement as phases of matter with emergent gauge structures and fractionalized excitations. In this context, phase transitions out of QSLs have been widely discussed as Higgs transitions from deconfined to confined phases of a lattice gauge theory. However the possibility of a wider range of novel phases, occuring between these two limits, has yet to be systematically explored. In this Letter, we develop a formalism which allows for interactions between fractionalised quasiparticles coming from the constraint on the physical Hilbert space, and can be used to search for exotic, hidden phases. Taking pyrochlore spin ice as a starting point, we show how a U(1) QSL can give birth to abundant daughter phases, without need for fine--tuning of parameters. These include a (charged--) $\mathbb{Z}_2$ QSL, and a supersolid. We discuss implications for experiment, and numerical results which support our analysis. These results are of broad relevance to QSL subject to a parton description, and offer a new perspective for searching exotic hidden phases in quantum magnets.

Spin Dynamics and Unconventional Coulomb Phase in Nd_{2}Zr_{2}O_{7}.

We investigate the temperature dependence of the spin dynamics in the pyrochlore magnet Nd_{2}Zr_{2}O_{7} by neutron scattering experiments. At low temperature, this material undergoes a transition towards an "all-in-all-out" antiferromagnetic phase and the spin dynamics encompass a dispersionless mode, characterized by a dynamical spin ice structure factor. Unexpectedly, this mode is found to survive above T_{N}≈300 mK. Concomitantly, elastic correlations of the spin ice type develop. These are the signatures of a peculiar correlated paramagnetic phase which can be considered as a new example of Coulomb phase. Our observations near T_{N} do not reproduce the signatures expected for a Higgs transition, but show reminiscent features of the "all-in-all-out" order superimposed on a Coulomb phase.

Fractonic gauge theory of smectics

Motivated by striped correlated quantum matter, and the recently developed duality between elasticity of a two-dimensional (2D) crystal and a gauge theory, we derive a dual coupled U(1) vector gauge theory for a two-dimensional (2D) quantum smectic, where the disclination is mapped onto the fractonic charge, that we demonstrate can only move transversely to smectic layers. This smectic gauge theory dual also emerges from a gauge dual of a quantum crystal through a Higgs transition corresponding to a single flavor of its dipole condensation, an anisotropic quantum melting via dislocation proliferation. A condensation of the second flavor of dislocations a corresponds to another Higgs transition describing the smectic-to-nematic melting. We also utilize the electrostatic limit of this duality to formulate a melting of a 2D classical smectic in terms of a higher derivative sine–Gordon model, demonstrating its instability to a nematic at any nonzero temperature. Generalizing this classical duality to a 3D smectic, gives formulation of a 3D nematic-to-smectic transition in terms of an anisotropic Abelian-Higgs model.

Quantum Smectic Gauge Theory.

We present a gauge theory formulation of a two-dimensional quantum smectic and its relatives, motivated by their realizations in correlated quantum matter. The description gives a unified treatment of phonons and topological defects, respectively, encoded in a pair of coupled gauge fields and corresponding charges. The charges exhibit subdimensional constrained quantum dynamics and anomalously slow highly anisotropic diffusion of disclinations inside a smectic. This approach gives a transparent description of a multistage quantum melting transition of a two-dimensional commensurate crystal (through an incommensurate crystal-a supersolid) into a quantum smectic, which subsequently melts into a quantum nematic and isotropic superfluids, all in terms of a sequence of Higgs transitions.

Topological strings on genus one fibered Calabi-Yau 3-folds and string dualities

We calculate the generating functions of BPS indices using their modular properties in Type II and M-theory compactifications on compact genus one fibered CY 3-folds with singular fibers and additional rational sections or just N -sections, in order to study string dualities in four and five dimensions as well as rigid limits in which gravity decouples. The generating functions are Jacobi-forms of Γ1(N) with the complexified fiber volume as modular parameter. The string coupling λ, or the ϵ± parameters in the rigid limit, as well as the masses of charged hypermultiplets and non-Abelian gauge bosons are elliptic parameters. To understand this structure, we show that specific auto-equivalences act on the category of topological B-branes on these geometries and generate an action of Γ1(N) on the stringy Kähler moduli space. We argue that these actions can always be expressed in terms of the generic Seidel-Thomas twist with respect to the 6-brane together with shifts of the B-field and are thus monodromies. This implies the elliptic transformation law that is satisfied by the generating functions. We use Higgs transitions in F-theory to extend the ansatz for the modular bootstrap to genus one fibrations with N -sections and boundary conditions fix the all genus generating functions for small base degrees completely. This allows us to study in depth a wide range of new, non-perturbative theories, which are Type II theory duals to the CHL ℤN orbifolds of the heterotic string on K3 × T2. In particular, we compare the BPS degeneracies in the large base limit to the perturbative heterotic one-loop amplitude with {R}_{+}^2{F}_{+}^{2g-2} insertions for many new Type II geometries. In the rigid limit we can refine the ansatz and obtain the elliptic genus of superconformal theories in 5d.

Gauge theory for the cuprates near optimal doping

We describe the phase diagram of a 2+1 dimensional SU(2) gauge theory of fluctuating incommensurate spin density waves for the hole-doped cuprates. Our primary assumption is that all low energy fermionic excitations are gauge neutral and electron-like, while the spin density wave order is fractionalized into Higgs fields transforming as adjoints of the gauge SU(2). The confining phase of the gauge theory is a conventional Fermi liquid with a large Fermi surface (and its associated $d$-wave superconductor). There is a quantum phase transition to a Higgs phase describing the `pseudogap' at lower doping. Depending upon the quartic terms in the Higgs potential, the Higgs phase exhibits one or more of charge density wave, Ising-nematic, time-reversal odd scalar spin chirality, and $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological orders. It is notable that the emergent broken symmetries in our theory of fluctuating spin density waves co-incide with those observed in diverse experiments. For the electron-doped cuprates, the spin density wave fluctuations are at wavevector $(\pi,\pi)$, and then the corresponding SU(2) gauge theory only has a crossover between the confining and Higgs regimes, with an exponentially large confinement scale deep in the Higgs regime. On the Higgs side, for both the electron- and hole-doped cases, and at scales shorter than the confinement scale (which can be infinite when $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological order is present), the electron spectral function has a `fractionalized Fermi liquid (FL*)' form with small Fermi surfaces. We also describe the deconfined quantum criticality of the Higgs transition in the limit of a large number of Higgs flavors, and perturbatively discuss its coupling to fermionic excitations.

Role of defects in determining the magnetic ground state of ytterbium titanate

Pyrochlore systems are ideally suited to the exploration of geometrical frustration in three dimensions, and their rich phenomenology encompasses topological order and fractional excitations. Classical spin ices provide the first context in which it is possible to control emergent magnetic monopoles, and anisotropic exchange leads to even richer behaviour associated with large quantum fluctuations. Whether the magnetic ground state of Yb2Ti2O7 is a quantum spin liquid or a ferromagnetic phase induced by a Higgs transition appears to be sample dependent. Here we have determined the role of structural defects on the magnetic ground state via the diffuse scattering of neutrons. We find that oxygen vacancies stabilise the spin liquid phase and the stuffing of Ti sites by Yb suppresses it. Samples in which the oxygen vacancies have been eliminated by annealing in oxygen exhibit a transition to a ferromagnetic phase, and this is the true magnetic ground state.

Quantum origins of moment fragmentation inNd2Zr2O7

Spin-liquid states are often described as the antithesis of magnetic order. Recently, however, it has been proposed that in certain frustrated magnets the magnetic degrees of freedom may "fragment" in such a way as to give rise to a coexistence of spin liquid and ordered phases. Recent neutron-scattering results [S. Petit, E. Lhotel, B. Canals, M. Ciomaga Hatnean, J. Ollivier, H. Muttka, E. Ressouche, A. R. Wildes, M. R. Lees, and G. Balakrishnan, Nat. Phys. 12, 746 (2016)] suggest that this scenario may be realized in the pyrochlore magnet Nd2Zr2O7. These observations show the characteristic pinch-point features of a Coulombic spin liquid occurring alongside the Bragg peaks of an "all-in-all-out" ordered state. Here we explain the quantum origins of this apparent magnetic moment fragmentation, within the framework of a quantum model of nearest-neighbor exchange, appropriate to Nd2Zr2O7. This model is able to capture both the ground-state order and the pinch points observed at finite energy. The observed fragmentation arises due to the combination of the unusual symmetry properties of the Nd3+ ionic wave functions and the structure of equations of motion of the magnetic degrees of freedom. The results of our analysis suggest that Nd2Zr2O7 is proximate to a U(1) spin-liquid phase and is a promising candidate for the observation of a Higgs transition in a magnetic system.

Superconductivity from a confinement transition out of a fractionalized Fermi liquid withZ2topological and Ising-nematic orders

The Schwinger-boson theory of the frustrated square lattice antiferromagnet yields a stable, gapped $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid ground state with time-reversal symmetry, incommensurate spin correlations and long-range Ising-nematic order. We obtain an equivalent description of this state using fermionic spinons (the fermionic spinons can be considered to be bound states of the bosonic spinons and the visons). Upon doping, the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid can lead to a fractionalized Fermi liquid (FL*) with small Fermi pockets of electron-like quasiparticles, while preserving the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological and Ising-nematic orders. We describe a Higgs transition out of this deconfined metallic state into a confining superconducting state which is usually of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov type, with spatial modulation of the superconducting order.

The arithmetic of elliptic fibrations in gauge theories on a circle

The geometry of elliptic fibrations translates to the physics of gauge theories in F-theory. We systematically develop the dictionary between arithmetic structures on elliptic curves as well as desingularized elliptic fibrations and symmetries of gauge theories on a circle. We show that the Mordell-Weil group law matches integral large gauge transformations around the circle in Abelian gauge theories and explain the significance of Mordell-Weil torsion in this context. We also use Higgs transitions and circle large gauge transformations to introduce a group law for genus-one fibrations with multi-sections. Finally, we introduce a novel arithmetic structure on elliptic fibrations with non-Abelian gauge groups in F-theory. It is defined on the set of exceptional divisors resolving the singularities and divisor classes of sections of the fibration. This group structure can be matched with certain integral non-Abelian large gauge transformations around the circle when studying the theory on the lower-dimensional Coulomb branch. Its existence is required by consistency with Higgs transitions from the non-Abelian theory to its Abelian phases in which it becomes the Mordell-Weil group. This hints towards the existence of a new underlying geometric symmetry.

Higgs criticality in a two-dimensional metal

We analyze a candidate theory for the strange metal near optimal hole-doping in the cuprate superconductors. The theory contains a quantum phase transition between metals with large and small Fermi surfaces of spinless fermions carrying the electromagnetic charge of the electron, but the transition does not directly involve any broken global symmetries. The two metals have emergent SU(2) and U(1) gauge fields respectively, and the transition is driven by the condensation of a real Higgs field, carrying a finite lattice momentum and an adjoint SU(2) gauge charge. This Higgs field measures the local antiferromagnetic correlations in a "rotating reference frame". We propose a global phase diagram around this Higgs transition, and describe its relationship to a variety of recent experiments on the cuprate superconductors.

Higgs Inflation and the Cosmological Constant

The Higgs not only induces the masses of all SM particles, the Higgs, given its special mass value, is the natural candidate for the inflaton and in fact is ruling the evolution of the early universe, by providing the necessary dark energy which remains the dominant energy density. SM running couplings not only allow us to extrapolate SM physics up to the Planck scale, but equally important they are triggering the Higgs mechanism. This is possible by the fact that the bare mass term in the Higgs potential changes sign at about mu_0 = 1.4x10^16 GeV and in the symmetric phase is enhanced by quadratic terms in the Planck mass. Such a huge Higgs mass term is able to play a key role in triggering inflation in the early universe. In this article we extend our previous investigation by working out the details of a Higgs inflation scenario. We show how different terms contributing to the Higgs Lagrangian are affecting inflation. Given the SM and its extrapolation to scales mu>mu_0 we find a calculable cosmological constant V(0) which is weakly scale dependent and actually remains large during inflation. This is different to the Higgs fluctuation field dependent Delta V(phi), which decays exponentially during inflation, and actually would not provide a sufficient amount of inflation. The fluctuation field has a different effective mass which shifts the bare Higgs transition point to a lower value mu'_0 = 7.7x10^14 GeV. The vacuum energy V(0) being proportional to M_Pl^4 has a coefficient which vanishes near the Higgs transition point, such that the bare and the renormalized cosmological constant match at this point. The role of the Higgs in reheating and baryogenesis is emphasized.

Higgs transition from a magnetic Coulomb liquid to a ferromagnet in Yb2Ti2O7

In a class of frustrated magnets known as spin ice, magnetic monopoles emerge as classical defects and interact via the magnetic Coulomb law. With quantum-mechanical interactions, these magnetic charges are carried by fractionalized bosonic quasi-particles, spinons, which can undergo Bose–Einstein condensation through a first-order transition via the Higgs mechanism. Here, we report evidence of a Higgs transition from a magnetic Coulomb liquid to a ferromagnet in single-crystal Yb2Ti2O7. Polarized neutron scattering experiments show that the diffuse [111]-rod scattering and pinch-point features, which develop on cooling are suddenly suppressed below TC~0.21 K, where magnetic Bragg peaks and a full depolarization of the neutron spins are observed with thermal hysteresis, indicating a first-order ferromagnetic transition. Our results are explained on the basis of a quantum spin-ice model, whose high-temperature phase is effectively described as a magnetic Coulomb liquid, whereas the ground state shows a nearly collinear ferromagnetism with gapped spin excitations.

Higgs transitions of spin ice

Frustrated magnets such as spin ice exhibit Coulomb phases, where correlations have power-law forms at long distances. Applied perturbations can cause ordering transitions which cannot be described by the usual Landau paradigm, and are instead naturally viewed as Higgs transitions of an emergent gauge theory. Starting from a classical statistical model of spin ice, it is shown that a variety of possible phases and transitions can be described by this approach. Certain cases are identified where continuous transitions are argued to be likely; the predicted critical behavior may be tested in experiments or numerical simulations.