The Anthony J Leggett Institute for Condensed Matter Theory Seminar, Ruben Verresen (U Chicago), "Intrinsically Gapless Topological Matter"

Abstract: Topological phases of matter are celebrated for their exotic properties, such as conducting edge modes or fractionalized quasiparticles. However, such topological phases typically require a nonzero energy gap as a defining property. In this talk, we will explore how even ground states with vanishing energy gaps can host robust topological phenomena. In fact, there exist examples of topologically-protected edge modes which can *only* appear on the boundary of gapless phases of matter. Such 'intrinsically gapless topological phases' motivate a generalization of the concept of anomalous symmetries and lead to unusual conduction properties, which we elucidate by introducing an exactly-solvable two-dimensional lattice model. 

Zoom Link: https://illinois.zoom.us/my/icmt.seminar?pwd=ZU1KbnBLeXZLUmJKc0oyU205cDNDdz09

Meeting ID: 791 382 8328

Password: 106237