Quantum geometry in condensed matter

TL;DR

This paper reviews how quantum geometric concepts like Berry curvature and quantum metric influence various properties of condensed matter systems, including transport, superconductivity, and topological phases.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of quantum geometry's role in condensed matter physics, highlighting recent advances and future research directions.

Findings

Quantum geometry affects nonlinear transport in materials.

Quantum metric enhances transition temperatures in flat-band superconductors.

Quantum geometry stabilizes fractional Chern insulators and fractional quantum anomalous Hall states.

Abstract

One of the most celebrated accomplishments of modern physics is the description of fundamental principles of nature in the language of geometry. As the motion of celestial bodies is governed by the geometry of spacetime, the motion of electrons in condensed matter can be characterized by the geometry of the Hilbert space of their wave functions. Such quantum geometry, comprising of Berry curvature and quantum metric, can thus exert profound influences on various properties of materials. The dipoles of both Berry curvature and quantum metric produce nonlinear transport. The quantum metric plays an important role in flat-band superconductors by enhancing the transition temperature. The uniformly distributed momentum-space quantum geometry stabilizes the fractional Chern insulators and results in the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect. We here review in detail quantum geometry in condensed matter, paying close attention to its effects on nonlinear transport, superconductivity, and topological properties. Possible future research directions in this field are also envisaged.