Emergent gauge structures in interacting condensed matter systems

相互作用的凝聚态物质系统中的新兴规范结构

• 批准号: 238568-2006
• 负责人: Franz, Marcel
• 金额: $ 3.31万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2006-01-01 至 2007-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=336556
• 关键词: Emergent; gauge; structures; interacting; condensed

Properties of microscopic objects, such as atoms and molecules, are governed by the peculiar laws of quantum physics. In the quantum world particles often behave as waves, and wave phenomena, such as light, acquire particle-like attributes. In some cases, this quantum behavior manifests itself in macroscopic objects and affects (and improves!) our everyday lives; lasers and solid-state electronic devices stand as standard examples. This proposal is concerned with exploring quantum phenomena in systems that include solids, liquids, and gases, which arise when very large numbers of quantum particles interact very strongly. Unusual things then happen: in some situations interacting systems can behave as if their elementary constituents (electrons, for example) splinter into new particles. This phenomenon is called ''fractionalization''. Fractions of the electron have fascinating properties and are of great interest to fundamental science. For example, in a scenario when the electron splinters into particles called non-abelian anyons, these particles have a remarkable property that when one particle is taken along a loop around another, it transforms into a particle of another type. Interestingly, this bizarre property of non-abelian anyons plays a key role in a proposed practical application of fractionalization to quantum computation. Research outlined in this proposal deals with theoretical descriptions of systems where these fascinating phenomena are thought to occur. These include high-temperature cuprate superconductors, ultra-cold atom gases and artificially engineered semiconductor structures. Besides contributing to resolving the underlying intellectual challenges the aim of the proposed research is to help develop practical applications of these remarkable phenomena in the area of quantum computation and information.

微观物体的性质，如原子和分子，是由量子物理学的特殊定律所支配的。在量子世界中，粒子通常表现为波，而波现象，如光，获得了粒子般的属性。在某些情况下，这种量子行为表现在宏观物体上，并影响（和改善！）我们的日常生活;激光器和固态电子设备是标准的例子。这个提议涉及探索包括固体、液体和气体在内的系统中的量子现象，当大量量子粒子非常强烈地相互作用时，就会出现这种现象。不寻常的事情发生了：在某些情况下，相互作用的系统可以表现得好像它们的基本成分（例如电子）分裂成新的粒子。这种现象被称为“细分化”。电子的分数具有迷人的性质，对基础科学具有极大的兴趣。例如，在电子分裂成称为非阿贝尔任意子的粒子的情况下，这些粒子具有一个显著的性质，即当一个粒子围绕另一个粒子沿着一个环时，它会转变成另一种类型的粒子。有趣的是，非阿贝尔任意子的这种奇异性质在量子计算的分数化的实际应用中起着关键作用。该提案中概述的研究涉及这些迷人现象被认为发生的系统的理论描述。这些包括高温铜酸盐超导体，超冷原子气体和人工设计的半导体结构。除了有助于解决潜在的智力挑战外，拟议研究的目的是帮助开发这些显着现象在量子计算和信息领域的实际应用。