Quantum phases of two-dimensional <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="double-struck">Z</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math> gauge theory coupled to single-component fermion matter
Umberto Borla, Bhilahari Jeevanesan, Frank Pollmann, Sergej Moroz
Abstract
Gauge theories are ubiquitous in contemporary physics. Here, the authors investigate the many-body phase diagram of a model where dynamical discrete Ising gauge fields mediate interactions between single-component fermionic matter. Such a system remained intractable for years, due to the lack of sign-problem-free Monte-Carlo simulations. With the help of a combination of analytical and state-of-the-art numerical tensor-network-based methods, the authors uncover the salient features of an intricate quantum phase diagram and reveal surprising aspects of quantum constrained dynamics. The recent advances in cold-atoms-based setups might soon allow experimental explorations of this model.