Collective Coordinate Action for Charged Sigma-Model Vortices in Finite Geometries

TL;DR

This paper develops a variational approach for charged vortices in quantum Hall systems, linking sigma-models and electrostatics to enhance understanding of vortex dynamics and plasma analogies.

Contribution

It introduces a duality transformation that simplifies vortex motion analysis by connecting sigma-models to electrostatic Green functions.

Findings

Duality transformation clarifies vortex dynamics

Connects sigma-models to electrostatics in quantum Hall systems

Provides a new perspective on plasma analogy to Laughlin wave function

Abstract

In this Letter the method of Lund is applied to formulate a variational principle for the motion of charged vortices in an effective non-linear Schr\"{o}dinger field theory describing finite size two-dimensional quantum Hall samples under the influence of an arbitrary perpendicular magnetic field. Freezing out variations in the modulus of the effective field yields a $U(1)$ sigma-model. A duality transformation on the sigma-model reduces the problem to finding the Green function for a related electrostatics problem. This duality illuminates the plasma analogy to the Laughlin wave function.