Theory of the Anderson transition in three-dimensional chiral symmetry classes: Connection to type-II superconductors

TL;DR

This paper develops a mean-field theory for the 3D Anderson transition in chiral symmetry classes, revealing a connection to the physics of 3D type-II superconductors and extending the understanding of topological defect-driven phase transitions.

Contribution

It introduces a dual representation of the 3D nonlinear sigma model for chiral classes, linking Anderson transitions to magnetostatics of type-II superconductors and unifying different phase transition frameworks.

Findings

Vortex loops govern the 3D Anderson transition in chiral classes.

The dual model connects Anderson transition physics to type-II superconductor magnetostatics.

Unified theoretical framework for metal-insulator and superconductor transitions.

Abstract

Phase transitions governed by topological defects constitute a cornerstone of modern physics. Two-dimensional (2D) Anderson transitions in chiral symmetry classes are driven by the proliferation of vortex-antivortex pairs -- a mechanism analogous to the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition in the 2D XY model. In this work, we extend this paradigm to three-dimensional (3D) chiral symmetry classes, where vortex loops emerge as the key topological defects governing the Anderson transition. By deriving the dual representation of the 3D nonlinear sigma model for the chiral unitary class, we develop a mean-field theory of its Anderson transition and elucidate the role of 1D weak band topology in the Anderson transition. Strikingly, our dual representation of the 3D NLSM in the chiral symmetry class uncovers its connection to the magnetostatics of 3D type-II superconductors. The metal-to-quasilocalized and quasilocalized-to-insulating transitions in 3D chiral symmetry class share a unified theoretical framework with the normal-to-mixed and mixed-to-superconducting transitions in 3D type-II superconductors under an external magnetic field, respectively.