Chern-Simons-matter conformal field theory on fuzzy sphere: Confinement transition of Kalmeyer-Laughlin chiral spin liquid

TL;DR

This paper investigates a 3d conformal gauge theory describing the transition between two quantum Hall states on a fuzzy sphere, revealing a continuous transition with emergent conformal symmetry and identifying key operators.

Contribution

It demonstrates the continuous nature of the transition and characterizes the operator spectrum in a fuzzy sphere regularized Chern-Simons-matter theory.

Findings

Transition is continuous with emergent conformal symmetry.

Only one relevant singlet operator with dimension ~1.52.

Realization of the theory as a Landau level transition on the fuzzy sphere.

Abstract

Gauge theories compose a large class of interacting conformal field theories in 3d, among which an outstanding category is critical Chern-Simons-matter theories. In this paper, we focus on one of the simplest instances: one complex critical scalar coupled to $\mathrm{U}(1)_2$ Chern-Simons gauge field. It is theoretically interesting as it is conjectured to exhibit dualities between four simple Lagrangian descriptions, but also practically important as it describes the transition between Kalmeyer-Laughlin chiral spin liquid (or $\nu=1/2$ bosonic Laughlin state) and trivially gapped phase. Using the fuzzy sphere regularisation, we realise this theory as a transition on the spherical lowest Landau level between a $\nu_f=2$ fermionic integer quantum Hall state and a $\nu_b=1/2$ bosonic fractional quantum Hall state. We show that this transition is continuous and has emergent conformal symmetry. By studying the operator spectrum, we show that there exists only one relevant singlet with scaling dimension $\Delta_S=1.52(18)$. We also discuss other higher operators and the consequences of our results.