Disorder Induced Phase Transition for Random 2D Dirac Fermions

TL;DR

This paper investigates a phase transition in 2D Dirac fermions caused by disorder, revealing a change in central charge and potential implications for quantum Hall effects.

Contribution

It demonstrates a disorder-induced phase transition in 2D Dirac fermions with unique properties and a change in central charge from 0 to -2.

Findings

Phase transition occurs at a critical disorder strength.

Central charge shifts from 0 to -2 across the transition.

Potential relevance to quantum Hall transition models.

Abstract

We present evidence that two dimensional Dirac fermions in the presence of random Abelian gauge potential exhibit a phase transition when the disorder strength exceeds a certain critical value. We argue that this phase transition has novel properties unique to disordered systems. It resembles in many ways the transition from dilute to dense polymers phase in two dimension. In particular, we argue that the central charge of the disordered Dirac fermions, being $c=0$ before the transition, changes to $c=-2$. We discuss possible implications to quantum Hall transitions, in view of recently proposed model for quantum Hall transitions with $c=-2$.