Gauge theory and mixed state criticality

In mixed quantum states, the notion of symmetry is divided into two types: strong and weak symmetry. While spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) for a weak symmetry is detected by two-point correlation functions, SSB for a strong symmetry is characterized by the Renyi-2 correlators. In this work, we present a way to construct various SSB phases for strong symmetries, starting from the ground state phase diagram of lattice gauge theory models. In addition to introducing a new type of mixed-state topological phases, we provide models of the criticalities between them, including those with gapless symmetry-protected topological order. We clarify that the ground states of lattice gauge theories are purified states…

• SF
  Simons Foundation

  Award: 566116
• JS
  Japan Science and Technology Corporation

  Award: JPMJCR19T2
• MO
  Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

  Awards: 24H00957, CREST, JPMJCR19T2
• YI
  Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University

  Award: YITP-T-24-03
• JS
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Awards: 25KJ1557, 22KJ1777, CREST, 566116, JPMJCR19T2
• CR
  Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology

  Award: JPMJCR19T2