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Updated: Sep 9, 2025
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Continuous order-to-order quantum phase transitions from fixed-point annihilation
David Jonas Moser1, Lukas Janssen1
1Institut für Theoretische Physik and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany.
Reports on Progress in Physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)
|September 2, 2025
Summary
We introduce a novel mechanism for continuous quantum phase transitions, independent of fractionalization. This process involves the collision and annihilation of renormalization group fixed points, enabling order-to-order transitions in various physical systems.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Field Theory
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Fractionalization is a key concept in phase transitions beyond Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson theory.
- Continuous quantum phase transitions often involve fractionalization and emergent gauge fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- Propose a new mechanism for continuous order-to-order quantum phase transitions.
- Demonstrate this mechanism's independence from fractionalization.
- Identify potential physical systems where this mechanism can manifest.
Main Methods:
- Renormalization group analysis.
- Investigating fixed point collisions and annihilation.
- Topological rearrangement of flow diagrams.
Main Results:
- A mechanism based on fixed point collision and annihilation is proposed.
- This mechanism leads to order-to-order transitions without fractionalization.
- A specific example is the transition between antiferromagnetic Weyl semimetals and nematic topological insulators.
Conclusions:
- The proposed fixed-point annihilation mechanism offers a new route to continuous quantum phase transitions.
- This mechanism is applicable to diverse physical systems, including Luttinger fermion systems and rare-earth pyrochlore iridates.
- Potential experimental observations in materials like R2Ir2O7 are highlighted.
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