Effective Edge State Dynamics in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

Abstract

We consider the behaviour of quantum Hall edges away from the Luttinger liquid fixed point that occurs in the low energy, large system limit. Using the close links between quantum Hall wavefunctions and conformal field theories we construct effective Hamiltonians from general principles and then constrain their forms by considering the effect of bulk symmetries on the properties of the edge. In examining the effect of bulk interactions on this edge we find remarkable simplifications to these effective theories which allow for a very accurate description of the low-energy physics of quantum Hall edges relatively far away from the Luttinger liquid fixed point, and which apply to small systems and higher energies.