John Chalker

Abstract:

We consider the statistical mechanics of a class of models involving close-packed loops with fugacity n on three-dimensional lattices. The models exhibit phases of two types as a coupling constant is varied: in one, all loops are finite, and in the other, some loops are infinitely extended. We show that the loop models are discretizations of CPn-1 σ models. The finite and infinite loop phases represent, respectively, disordered and ordered phases of the σ model, and we discuss the relationship between loop properties and σ model correlators. On large scales, loops are Brownian in an ordered phase and have a nontrivial fractal dimension at a critical point. We simulate the models, finding continuous transitions between the two phases for n=1,2,3 and first order transitions for n≥4. We also give a renormalization-group treatment of the CPn-1 model that shows how a continuous transition can survive for values of n larger than (but close to) 2, despite the presence of a cubic invariant in the Landau-Ginzburg description. The results we obtain are of broader relevance to a variety of problems, including SU(n) quantum magnets in (2+1) dimensions, Anderson localization in symmetry class C, and the statistics of random curves in three dimensions. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

Statistical lattice ensembles of loops in three or more dimensions typically have phases in which the longest loops fill a finite fraction of the system. In such phases it is natural to ask about the distribution of loop lengths. We show how to calculate moments of these distributions using $CP^{n-1}$ or $RP^{n-1}$ and O(n) $\sigma$ models together with replica techniques. The resulting joint length distribution for macroscopic loops is Poisson-Dirichlet with a parameter $\theta$ fixed by the loop fugacity and by symmetries of the ensemble. We also discuss features of the length distribution for shorter loops, and use numerical simulations to test and illustrate our conclusions.

Abstract:

We develop the theory of electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometers built from quantum Hall edge states at the Landau level filling factor ν=2, which have been investigated in a series of recent experiments and theoretical studies. We show that a detailed treatment of the dephasing and nonequlibrium transport is made possible by using bosonization combined with refermionization to study a model in which interactions between electrons are short range. In particular, this approach allows a nonperturbative treatment of electron tunneling at the quantum point contacts that act as beam splitters. We find an exact analytic expression at an arbitrary tunneling strength for the differential conductance of an interferometer with arms of equal length and obtain numerically exact results for an interferometer with unequal arms. We compare these results with previous perturbative and approximate ones and with observations. © 2013 American Physical Society.