Topological Frustration can modify the nature of a Quantum Phase Transition

Marić, Vanja; Torre, Gianpaolo; Franchini, Fabio; Giampaolo, Salvatore Marco

doi:10.21468/SciPostPhys.12.2.075

SciPost Physics

Topological Frustration can modify the nature of a Quantum Phase Transition

Vanja Marić, Gianpaolo Torre, Fabio Franchini, Salvatore Marco Giampaolo

SciPost Phys. 12, 075 (2022) · published 24 February 2022

doi: 10.21468/SciPostPhys.12.2.075
pdf
Submissions/Reports

Abstract

Ginzburg-Landau theory of continuous phase transitions implicitly assumes that microscopic changes are negligible in determining the thermodynamic properties of the system. In this work we provide an example that clearly contrasts with this assumption. We show that topological frustration can change the nature of a second order quantum phase transition separating two different ordered phases. Even more remarkably, frustration is triggered simply by a suitable choice of boundary conditions in a 1D chain. While with every other BC each of two phases is characterized by its own local order parameter, with frustration no local order can survive. We construct string order parameters to distinguish the two phases, but, having proved that topological frustration is capable of altering the nature of a system's phase transition, our results pose a clear challenge to the current understanding of phase transitions in complex quantum systems.

TY  - JOUR
PB  - SciPost Foundation
DO  - 10.21468/SciPostPhys.12.2.075
TI  - Topological Frustration can modify the nature of a Quantum Phase Transition
PY  - 2022/02/24
UR  - https://www.scipost.org/SciPostPhys.12.2.075
JF  - SciPost Physics
JA  - SciPost Phys.
VL  - 12
IS  - 2
SP  - 075
A1  - Marić, Vanja
AU  - Torre, Gianpaolo
AU  - Franchini, Fabio
AU  - Giampaolo, Salvatore Marco
AB  - Ginzburg-Landau theory of continuous phase transitions implicitly assumes that microscopic changes are negligible in determining the thermodynamic properties of the system. In this work we provide an example that clearly contrasts with this assumption. We show that topological frustration can change the nature of a second order quantum phase transition separating two different ordered phases. Even more remarkably, frustration is triggered simply by a suitable choice of boundary conditions in a 1D chain. While with every other BC each of two phases is characterized by its own local order parameter, with frustration no local order can survive. We construct string order parameters to distinguish the two phases, but, having proved that topological frustration is capable of altering the nature of a system's phase transition, our results pose a clear challenge to the current understanding of phase transitions in complex quantum systems.
ER  -

@Article{10.21468/SciPostPhys.12.2.075,
	title={{Topological Frustration can modify the nature of a Quantum Phase Transition}},
	author={Vanja Marić and Gianpaolo Torre and Fabio Franchini and Salvatore Marco Giampaolo},
	journal={SciPost Phys.},
	volume={12},
	pages={075},
	year={2022},
	publisher={SciPost},
	doi={10.21468/SciPostPhys.12.2.075},
	url={https://scipost.org/10.21468/SciPostPhys.12.2.075},
}

Cited by 4

Authors / Affiliations: mappings to Contributors and Organizations

See all Organizations.

Funders for the research work leading to this publication

European Regional Development Fund [ERDF]
Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost (through Organization: Hrvatska zaklada za znanost / Croatian Science Foundation [HRZZ])