Yichen Hu’s research while affiliated with University of Pennsylvania and other places

We construct a coupled wire model for a sequence of non-Abelian quantum Hall states occurring at filling factors ν=2/(2M+q) with integers M and even (odd) integers q for fermionic (bosonic) states. They are termed Z2×Z2 orbifold states, which have a topological order with a neutral sector described by the c=1 orbifold conformal field theory (CFT) at radius Rorbifold=p/2 with even integers p. When p=2, the state can be viewed as two decoupled layers of Moore-Read states, whose neutral sector is described by the Ising × Ising CFT and contains a Z2×Z2 fusion subalgebra. We demonstrate that orbifold states with p>2, also containing a Z2×Z2 fusion algebra, can be obtained by coupling together an array of MR×MR wires through local interactions. The corresponding charge spectrum of quasiparticles is also examined. The orbifold states constructed here are complementary to the Z4 orbifold states, whose neutral edge theory is described by orbifold CFT with odd integer p and contains a Z4 fusion algebra.

We construct a coupled wire model for a sequence of non-Abelian quantum Hall states occurring at filling factors $\nu=2/(2M+q)$ with integers M and even(odd) integers q for fermionic(bosonic) states. They are termed $Z_2 \times Z_2$ orbifold states, which have a topological order with a neutral sector described by the c=1 orbifold conformal field theory (CFT) at radius $R_{\rm orbifold}=\sqrt{p/2}$ with even integers p. When p=2, the state can be viewed as two decoupled layers of Moore-Read (MR) state, whose neutral sector is described by the Ising $\times$ Ising CFT and contains a $Z_2 \times Z_2$ fusion subalgebra. We demonstrate that orbifold states with $p>2$, also containing a $Z_2 \times Z_2$ fusion algebra, can be obtained by coupling together an array of MR $\times$ MR wires through local interactions. The corresponding charge spectrum of quasiparticles is also examined. The orbifold states constructed here are complementary to the $Z_4$ orbifold states, whose neutral edge theory is described by orbifold CFT with odd integer p and contains a $Z_4$ fusion algebra.

We study a special class of topological phase transitions in two dimensions described by the inversion of bands with relative angular momentum higher than 1. A band inversion of this kind, which is protected by rotation symmetry, separates the trivial insulator from a Chern insulating phase with higher Chern number, and thus generalizes the quantum Hall transition described by a Dirac fermion. Higher angular momentum band inversions are of special interest, as the nonvanishing density of states at the transition can give rise to interesting many-body effects. Here we introduce a series of minimal lattice models which realize higher angular momentum band inversions. We then consider the effect of interactions, focusing on the possibility of electron-hole exciton condensation, which breaks rotational symmetry. An analysis of the excitonic insulator mean field theory further reveals that the ground state of the Chern insulating phase with higher Chern number has the structure of a multicomponent integer quantum Hall state. We conclude by generalizing the notion of higher angular momentum band inversions to the class of time-reversal invariant systems, following the scheme of Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ). Such band inversions can be viewed as transitions to a topological insulator protected by rotation and inversion symmetry, and provide a promising venue for realizing correlated topological phases such as fractional topological insulators.

We study a special class of topological phase transitions in two dimensions described by the inversion of bands with relative angular momentum higher than 1. A band inversion of this kind, which is protected by rotation symmetry, separates the trivial insulator from a Chern insulating phase with higher Chern number, and thus generalizes the quantum Hall transition described by a Dirac fermion. Higher angular momentum band inversions are of special interest, as the non-vanishing density of states at the transition can give rise to interesting many-body effects. Here we introduce a series of minimal lattice models which realize higher angular momentum band inversions. We then consider the effect of interactions, focusing on the possibility of electron-hole exciton condensation, which breaks rotational symmetry. An analysis of the excitonic insulator mean field theory further reveals that the ground state of the Chern insulating phase with higher Chern number has the structure of a multicomponent integer quantum Hall state. We conclude by generalizing the notion of higher angular momentum band inversions to the class time-reversal invariant systems, following the scheme of Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ). Such band inversions can be viewed as transitions to a topological insulator protected by rotation and inversion symmetry, and provide a promising venue for realizing correlated topological phases such as fractional topological insulators.

We argue that a correlated fluid of electrons and holes can exhibit a fractional quantum Hall effect at zero magnetic field analogous to the Laughlin state at filling 1/m. We introduce a variant of the Laughlin wave function for electrons and holes and show that for m=1 it is the exact ground state of a free fermion model that describes px+ipy excitonic pairing. For m>1 we develop a simple composite fermion mean field theory, and we present evidence that our wave function correctly describes this phase. We derive an interacting Hamiltonian for which our wave function is the exact ground state, and we present physical arguments that the m=3 state can be realized in a system in which energy bands with angular momentum that differ by 3 cross at the Fermi energy. This leads to a gapless state with (px+ipy)3 excitonic pairing, which we argue is conducive to forming the fractional excitonic insulator in the presence of interactions. Prospects for numerics on model systems and band structure engineering to realize this phase in real materials are discussed.

We argue that a correlated fluid of electrons and holes can exhibit a fractional quantum Hall effect at zero magnetic field analogous to the Laughlin state at filling 1/m. We introduce a variant of the Laughlin wavefunction for electrons and holes and show that for m=1 it is the exact ground state of a free fermion model that describes $p_x + i p_y$ excitonic pairing. For $m>1$ we develop a simple composite fermion mean field theory, and we present evidence that our wavefunction correctly describes this phase. We derive an interacting Hamiltonian for which our wavefunction is the exact ground state, and we present physical arguments that the m=3 state can be realized in a system in which energy bands with angular momentum that differ by 3 cross at the Fermi energy. This leads to a gapless state with $(p_x + i p_y)^3$ excitonic pairing, which we argue is conducive to forming the fractional excitonic insulator in the presence of interactions. Prospects for numerics on model systems and band structure engineering to realize this phase in real materials are discussed.

We introduce a model of interacting Majorana fermions that describes a superconducting phase with a topological order characterized by the Fibonacci topological field theory. Our theory, which is based on a $SO(7)_1/(G_2)_1$ coset factorization, leads to a solvable one dimensional model that is extended to two dimensions using a network construction. In addition to providing a description of the Fibonacci phase without parafermions, our theory predicts a closely related "anti-Fibonacci" phase, whose topological order is characterized by the tricritical Ising model. We show that Majorana fermions can split into a pair of Fibonacci anyons, and propose an interferometer that generalizes the $Z_2$ Majorana interferometer and directly probes the Fibonacci non-Abelian statistics.

We introduce a model of interacting Majorana fermions that describes a superconducting phase with a topological order characterized by the Fibonacci topological field theory. Our theory, which is based on a $SO(7)_1/(G_2)_1$ coset factorization, leads to a solvable one dimensional model that is extended to two dimensions using a network construction. In addition to providing a description of the Fibonacci phase without parafermions, our theory predicts a closely related "anti-Fibonacci" phase, whose topological order is characterized by the tricritical Ising model. We show that Majorana fermions can split into a pair of Fibonacci anyons, and propose an interferometer that generalizes the $Z_2$ Majorana interferometer and directly probes the Fibonacci non-Abelian statistics.