Topological phase transitions driven by gauge fields in an exactly solvable model

Abstract

We demonstrate the existence of a new topologically ordered phase in Kitaev's honeycomb lattice model. This new phase appears due to the presence of a vortex lattice and it supports chiral Abelian anyons. We characterize the phase by its low-energy behavior that is described by a distinct number of Dirac fermions. We identify two physically distinct types of topological phase transitions and obtain analytically the critical behavior of the extended phase space. The Fermi surface evolution associated with the transitions is shown to be due to the Dirac fermions coupling to chiral gauge fields. Finally, we describe how the new phase can be understood in terms of interactions between the anyonic vortices.

5 pages, 5 figures, published version

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• Perturbed vortex lattices and the stability of nucleated topological phases
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• Classical Heisenberg spins on a hexagonal lattice with Kitaev couplings
• Determining quantum phase diagrams of topological Kitaev-inspired models on NISQ quantum hardware
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• Parity of Chern numbers in the Kitaev honeycomb model and the sixteenfold way
• Geometric description of the Kitaev honeycomb lattice model
• Diagnosing Topological Edge States via Entanglement Monogamy
• Statistical dynamics of a non-Abelian anyonic quantum walk
• Anatomy of Fermionic Entanglement and Criticality in Kitaev Spin Liquids
• Equivalence between vortices, twists and chiral gauge fields in Kitaev's honeycomb lattice model
• Conformal energy currents on the edge of a topological superconductor
• Lacing topological orders in two dimensions: exactly solvable models for Kitaev's sixteen-fold way
• Effective models for dense vortex lattices in the Kitaev honeycomb model
• Quantum simulation and ground state preparation for the honeycomb Kitaev model