Soluble limit and criticality of fermions in <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 theories
Elio J. König, Piers Coleman, Alexei M. Tsvelik
Abstract
Quantum information theory and strongly correlated electron systems share a common theme of macroscopic quantum entanglement. In both topological error correction codes and theories of quantum materials (spin liquid, heavy fermion and high-${T}_{c}$ systems), entanglement is implemented by means of an emergent gauge symmetry. Inspired by these connections, we introduce a simple model for fermions moving in the deconfined phase of a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ gauge theory by coupling Kitaev's toric code to mobile fermions. This permits us to exactly solve the ground state of this system and map out its phase diagram. Reversing the sign of the plaquette term in the toric code permits us to tune the ground state between an orthogonal metal and an orthogonal semimetal in which gapless quasiparticles survive despite a gap in the spectrum of original fermions. The small-to-large Fermi surface transition between these two states occurs in a stepwise fashion with multiple intermediate phases. By using a diagrammatic technique, we are able to explore physics beyond the integrable point to examine various instabilities of the deconfined phase and to derive the critical theory at the transition between deconfined and confined phases. We outline how the fermionic toric code can be implemented as a quantum circuit, thus providing an important link between quantum materials and quantum information theory.