Continuous topological phase transitions between clean quantum Hall states

TL;DR

This paper investigates continuous topological phase transitions between quantum Hall states with the same symmetry but different topological orders, focusing on clean bilayer systems and deriving effective theories for critical points.

Contribution

It demonstrates the possibility of continuous transitions between quantum Hall states driven by interlayer interactions and derives effective theories for these critical points.

Findings

Continuous transitions between quantum Hall states with the same symmetry are possible.

Effective theories for critical points at some transitions are derived.

Transitions can be driven by increasing interlayer repulsion or tunneling.

Abstract

Continuous transitions between states with the {\em same} symmetry but different topological orders are studied. Clean quantum Hall (QH) liquids with neutral quasiparticles are shown to have such transitions. For clean bilayer (nnm) states, a continous transition to other QH states (including non-Abelian states) can be driven by increasing interlayer repulsion/tunneling. The effective theories describing the critical points at some transitions are derived.