Homotopy quantum phase transitions

Abstract

We present a new class of quantum phase transitions that refer neither to local order parameter and critical fluctuations nor to continuous symmetry breaking but are assigned by the step-wise change in topology of the multi-particle system expressed in homotopy terms. The energy for homotopy phases changes in a step-wise manner and the different homotopies induce specific correlations in planar interacting multi-particle system representing different commesurability patterns of quantum incompressible states. We illustrate the concept of the homotopy phase transition in the simplest quantum multi-particle system of two repulsing electrons on a 2D finite jellium exposed to a strong perpendicular magnetic field. The homotopy phases related to fractional quantum Hall states are described and compared with their experimental manifestation.