Nematic phases and the breaking of double symmetries

TL;DR

This paper classifies two-dimensional non-Abelian nematic phases using Hopf symmetry breaking, revealing new phases and detailed symmetry breaking patterns with potential applications in quantum fluids and liquid crystals.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive classification method for nematic phases via Hopf symmetry breaking, including defect condensates and residual symmetries, for tetrahedral, octahedral, and icosahedral nematics.

Findings

Classification of double symmetries for specific nematics

Systematic analysis of defect condensates and symmetry breaking patterns

Identification of new quantum and classical nematic phases

Abstract

In this paper we present a phase classification of (effectively) two-dimensional non-Abelian nematics, obtained using the Hopf symmetry breaking formalism. In this formalism one exploits the underlying double symmetry which treats both ordinary and topological modes on equal footing, i.e. as representations of a single (non-Abelian) Hopf symmetry. The method that exists in the literature (and is developed in a paper published in parallel) allows for a full classification of defect mediated as well as ordinary symmetry breaking patterns and a description of the resulting confinement and/or liberation phenomena. After a summary of the formalism, we determine the double symmetries for tetrahedral, octahedral and icosahedral nematics and their representations. Subsequently the breaking patterns which follow from the formation of admissible defect condensates are analyzed systematically. This leads to a host of new (quantum and classical) nematic phases. Our result consists of a listing of condensates, with the corresponding intermediate residual symmetry algebra and the symmetry algebra characterizing the effective ``low energy'' theory of surviving unconfined and liberated degrees of freedom in the broken phase. The results suggest that the formalism is applicable to a wide variety of two dimensional quantum fluids, crystals and liquid crystals.