Duality and modular symmetry in the quantum Hall effect from Lifshitz holography

TL;DR

This paper explores the temperature-dependent quantum Hall conductivities using Lifshitz holography within the AdS/CMT framework, revealing modular symmetry effects and matching experimental data on conductivity flow.

Contribution

It introduces a Lifshitz holographic model with a dyonic black-brane that demonstrates modular symmetry in quantum Hall conductivities and connects temperature flow to modular forms.

Findings

Modular symmetry acts on conductivities via an $Sl(2,Z)$ group.

Flow diagrams match experimental temperature dependence of quantum Hall conductivities.

The model links IR conductivities to modular forms through gradient flow.

Abstract

The temperature dependence of quantum Hall conductivities is studied in the context of the AdS/CMT paradigm using a model with a bulk theory consisting of (3+1)-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell action coupled to a dilaton and an axion, with a negative cosmological constant. We consider a solution which has a Lifshitz like geometry with a dyonic black-brane in the bulk. There is an $Sl(2,R)$ action in the bulk corresponding to electromagnetic duality, which maps between classical solutions, and is broken to $Sl(2,Z)$ by Dirac quantisation of dyons. This bulk $Sl(2,Z)$ action translates to an action of the modular group on the 2-dimensional transverse conductivities. The temperature dependence of the infra-red conductivities is then linked to modular forms via gradient flow and the resulting flow diagrams show remarkable agreement with existing experimental data on the temperature flow of both integral and fractional quantum Hall conductivities.