Fractional quantum Hall effect arising from repulsive three body interaction

TL;DR

This paper predicts the emergence of fractional quantum Hall states from purely three-body repulsive interactions among fermions in strong magnetic fields, revealing a complex phase diagram with novel quantum phases.

Contribution

It introduces a new mechanism for fractional quantum Hall effects driven solely by three-body interactions, expanding understanding beyond traditional two-body interaction models.

Findings

Prediction of composite fermions from three-body interactions

Identification of a rich phase diagram including fractional quantum Hall states

Potential experimental realization in ultra-cold atomic systems

Abstract

We consider a collection of fermions in a strong magnetic field coupled by a purely three body repulsive interaction, and predict the formation of composite fermions, leading to a remarkably rich phase diagram containing a host of fractional quantum Hall states, a composite fermion Fermi sea, and a pairing transition. This is entirely unexpected, because the appearance of composite fermions and fractional quantum Hall effect is ordinarily thought to be a result of strong two-body repulsion. Recent theoretical and experimental breakthroughs in ultra-cold atoms and molecules have facilitated the realization of such a system, where this physics can be tested.