Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem from gauge constraints

Abstract

We construct a $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory coupled to matter on a one-dimensional chain, aiming to study the ground-state physics in the Gauss law subspace. We show that the theory in the Gauss law subspace has a U$(1)$ symmetry whose generator commutes with lattice translations, but anticommutes with the lattice reflection operator. This leads to a Lieb-Schultz-Mattis (LSM) theorem that always rules out a trivial gapped ground state in the Gauss law subspace, if the hamiltonian is invariant under translations and reflection. Any point in the parameter space must realize either a spontaneously symmetry broken (SSB) ground state, or a gapless ground state. Imposing the Gauss law is pivotal for the existence of the U$(1)$ symmetry, and hence of the LSM theorem. We thus demonstrate a novel mechanism to obtain an LSM-type theorem, wherein the symmetry responsible for the theorem originates from the kinematic constraints of a gauge theory. We identify a point in the parameter space at which the system is gapless. At the gapless point, the excitations admit a description in terms of free Dirac fermions with a constraint on the total fermion number. The asymptotic behavior of the two-point correlation function of the simplest local gauge-invariant quantity at the gapless point is found to be $ \propto \cos{(πr)}\,r^{-2/9}$, where $r$ is the lattice separation between the two points. This model is also a natural platform to study phase diagram topological defects residing in families of SSB phases.