Exact zeros of fidelity in finite-size systems as a signature for probing quantum phase transitions

Abstract

The fidelity is widely used to detect quantum phase transitions, which is characterized by either a sharp change of fidelity or the divergence of fidelity susceptibility in the thermodynamical limit when the phase-driving parameter is across the transition point. In this work, we unveil that the occurrence of exact zeros of fidelity in finite-size systems can be applied to detect quantum phase transitions. In general, the fidelity $\mathcal{F}(\gamma,\tilde{\gamma})$ always approaches zero in the thermodynamical limit, due to the Anderson orthogonality catastrophe, no matter whether the parameters of two ground states ($\gamma$ and $\tilde{\gamma}$) are in the same phase or different phases, and this makes it difficult to distinguish whether an exact zero of fidelity exists by finite-size analysis. To overcome the influence of orthogonality catastrophe, we study finite-size systems with twist boundary conditions, which can be introduced by applying a magnetic flux, and demonstrate that exact zeros of fidelity can be always accessed by tuning the magnetic flux when $\gamma$ and $\tilde{\gamma}$ belong to different phases. On the other hand, no exact zero of fidelity can be observed if $\gamma$ and $\tilde{\gamma}$ are in the same phase. We demonstrate the applicability of our theoretical scheme by studying concrete examples, including the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, Creutz model and Haldane model. Our work provides a practicable way to detect quantum phase transitions via the calculation of fidelity of finite-size systems.