Quantum phase transition without gap opening

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that quantum phase transitions can occur without the traditional gap opening or closing, especially among gapless phases, challenging conventional understanding of QPTs.

Contribution

It reveals that continuous quantum phase transitions can happen among gapless phases and introduces a topological perspective using the XY model and Majorana representation.

Findings

Gapless ground states have distinct topological characters.

Quantum fidelity indicates signatures of QPT in gapless states.

Scaling behavior observed in derivatives of ground state energy.

Abstract

Quantum phase transitions (QPTs), including symmetry breaking and topological types, always associated with gap closing and opening. We analyze the topological features of the quantum phase boundary of the XY model in a transverse magnetic field. Based on the results from graphs in the auxiliary space, we find that gapless ground states at boundary have different topological characters. On the other hand, In the framework of Majorana representation, the Majorana lattice is shown to be two coupled SSH chains. The analysis of the quantum fidelity for the Majorana eigen vector indicates the signature of QPT for the gapless state. Furthermore numerical computation shows that the transition between two types of gapless phases associates with divergence of second-order derivative of groundstate energy density, which obeys scaling behavior. It indicates that a continues QPT can occur among gapless phases. The underlying mechanism of the gapless QPT is also discussed. The gap closing and opening are not necessary for a QPT.