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Fermion-induced quantum critical points
- Source :
- Nature Communications 8, 314 (2017)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- A unified theory of quantum critical points beyond the conventional Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson paradigm remains unknown. According to Landau cubic criterion, phase transitions should be first-order when cubic terms of order parameters are allowed by symmetry in the Landau-Ginzburg free energy. Here, from renormalization group (RG) analysis we show that second-order quantum phase transitions can occur at such putatively first-order transitions in interacting two-dimensional Dirac semimetals. As such type of Landau-forbidden quantum critical points are induced by gapless fermions, we call them fermion-induced quantum critical points (FIQCP). We further introduce a microscopic model of SU(N) fermions on the honeycomb lattice featuring a transition between Dirac semimetals and Kekule valence bond solids. Remarkably, our large-scale sign-problem-free Majorana quantum Monte Carlo simulations show convincing evidences of a FIQCP for N=2,3,4,5,6, consistent with the RG analysis. We finally discuss possible experimental realizations of the FIQCP in graphene and graphene-like materials.<br />Comment: Accepted in Nature Communications. Initial submission to a different journal on Jan. 5th, 2016. The supersymmetry argument is added
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Journal :
- Nature Communications 8, 314 (2017)
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.1512.07908
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00167-6