Zero-Clustering Geometry in Realistic Fractional Quantum Hall Wave Functions

Abstract

The clustering pattern of zeros in the ground state of a fractional quantum Hall system is a defining feature of its topological properties. We analyze the geometrical fluctuations of the zeros around individual electrons and propose to use the displacement ratio of the zeros to visualize and measure the distance of a realistic state to a model wave function. The distribution of the zero displacement ratio behaves like an order parameter in the transition from a Laughlin phase to a topologically trivial one. The statistical comparison between quantum Hall states belonging to different Jain sequences leads to a composite fermion fluid description of the $ν= 1/5$ ground state with long-range Coulomb interaction that agrees almost perfectly for as few as $3$-$5$ electrons, overcoming the long-standing difficulties of accommodating the competing liquid and crystal orders at short distances.