Detecting two-dimensional symmetry-protected topological order in a ground-state wave function

Michael P. Zaletel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Symmetry-protected topological states cannot be deformed to a trivial state so long as the symmetry is preserved, yet there is no local order parameter that can distinguish them from a trivial state. We demonstrate how to detect whether a two-dimensional ground state has symmetry-protected topological order; the measurements play a similar role as the topological entanglement entropy does for detecting anyons. For any finite Abelian onsite symmetry, the measurement completely determines the third cohomology class that characterizes the order. The proposed measurement is validated numerically using the infinite density matrix renormalization group for a model with Z2 symmetry-protected order.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number235113
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume90
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 5 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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