A strongly coupled zig-zag transition
Abstract
The zig-zag symmetry transition is a phase transition in 1D quantum wires, in which a Wigner lattice of electrons transitions to two staggered lattices. Previous studies model this transition as a Luttinger liquid coupled to a Majorana fermion. The model exhibits interesting RG flows, involving quenching of velocities in subsectors of the theory. We suggest an extension of the model which replaces the Majorana fermion by a more general CFT; this includes an experimentally realizable case with two Majorana fermions. We analyse the RG flow both in field theory and using AdS/CFT techniques in the large central charge limit of the CFT. The model has a rich phase structure with new qualitative features, already in the two Majorana fermion case. The AdS/CFT calculation involves considering back reaction in space-time to capture subleading effects.
- Publication:
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Journal of High Energy Physics
- Pub Date:
- September 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1007/JHEP09(2013)066
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1305.3574
- Bibcode:
- 2013JHEP...09..066B
- Keywords:
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- Gauge-gravity correspondence;
- AdS-CFT Correspondence;
- Holography and condensed matter physics (AdS/CMT);
- Field Theories in Lower Dimensions;
- High Energy Physics - Theory;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons
- E-Print:
- 39 pages, 6 figures