Fractionalization of holographic Fermi surfaces

TL;DR

This paper explores holographic models of zero temperature matter states, demonstrating phase transitions between mesonic, fractionalized, and partially fractionalized phases, with critical points exhibiting Lifshitz scaling.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled fermion fluid model in AdS_4 that captures all three phases and their quantum phase transitions, including Lifshitz critical points.

Findings

Identified conditions for phase transitions between different fractionalization states.

Demonstrated both first order and continuous phase transitions.

Found Lifshitz scaling at quantum critical points.

Abstract

Zero temperature states of matter are holographically described by a spacetime with an asymptotic electric flux. This flux can be sourced either by explicit charged matter fields in the bulk, by an extremal black hole horizon, or by a combination of the two. We refer to these as mesonic, fully fractionalized and partially fractionalized phases of matter, respectively. By coupling a charged fluid of fermions to an asymptotically AdS_4 Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory, we exhibit quantum phase transitions between all three of these phases. The onset of fractionalization can be either a first order or continuous phase transition. In the latter case, at the quantum critical point the theory displays an emergent Lifshitz scaling symmetry in the IR.