Quantum critical spin liquids and conformal field theory in 2+1 dimensions

TL;DR

This paper introduces new conformal field theories based on symplectic fermions that vary with dimension and component number, providing insights into quantum critical spin liquids and phase transitions in 2+1 dimensions.

Contribution

It develops a novel class of conformal field theories that interpolate between 2 and 4 dimensions, linking them to quantum critical phenomena in anti-ferromagnetic systems.

Findings

Critical exponents depend continuously on N and D.

N=2 theory models a deconfined quantum critical spin liquid.

Proposes a connection between symplectic fermion theories and phase transitions in antiferromagnets.

Abstract

We describe new conformal field theories based on symplectic fermions that can be extrapolated between 2 and 4 dimensions. The critical exponents depend continuously on the number of components N of the fermions and the dimension D. In the context of anti-ferromagnetism, the N=2 theory is proposed to describe a deconfined quantum critical spin liquid corresponding to a transition between a Neel ordered phase and a VBS-like phase.