The emergence of gauge invariance: the stay-at-home gauge versus local-global duality

DOI10.1016/J.AOP.2011.11.006zbMATH Open1244.82087arXiv1108.2791OpenAlexW2154315433MaRDI QIDQ413163FDOQ413163

Authors: J. Zaanen, A. J. Beekman 

Publication date: 4 May 2012

Published in: Annals of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In condensed matter physics gauge symmetries other than the U(1) of electromagnetism are of an emergent nature. Two emergence mechanisms for gauge symmetry are well established: the way these arise in Kramers-Wannier type local-global dualities, and as a way to encode local constraints encountered in (doped) Mott insulators. We demonstrate that these gauge structures are closely related, and appear as counterparts in either the canonical or field-theoretical language. The restoration of symmetry in a disorder phase transition is due to having the original local variables subjected to a coherent superposition of all possible topological defect configurations, with the effect that correlation functions are no longer well-defined. This is completely equivalent to assigning gauge freedom to those variables. Two cases are considered explicitly: the well-known vortex duality in bosonic Mott insulators serves to illustrate the principle. The acquired wisdoms are then applied to the less familiar context of dualities in quantum elasticity, where we elucidate the relation between the quantum nematic and linearized gravity. We reflect on some deeper implications for the emergence of gauge symmetry in general.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1108.2791

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zbMATH Keywords

emergencedualitygauge invariancetopological defects

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Phase transitions (general) in equilibrium statistical mechanics (82B26) Statistical mechanics of random media, disordered materials (including liquid crystals and spin glasses) (82D30) Statistical mechanics of superconductors (82D55)

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Cited In (5)

• Higher derivative theories for interacting massless gravitons in Minkowski spacetime
• Dual gauge field theory of quantum liquid crystals in two dimensions
• Challenges for emergent gravity
• From physical symmetries to emergent gauge symmetries
• Electromagnetism as an emergent phenomenon: a step-by-step guide

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