Condensed Matter Seminar Series

Quantum Critical Spin Systems

Ribhu Kaul

University of Kentucky

Thursday November 14,  11:30 am,  Room 298,  Physics Building

Abstract:  Close to the absolute zero of temperature, when pushed to the edge between two phases of matter, simple lattice Hamiltonians of spins can display the incredibly rich phenomena of "quantum criticality". Quantum critical ground states are described by the most complex wavefunctions known to physicists, yet they can be categorized by "universality classes" that are independent of the details of the Hamiltonians that realize them. In this seminar I will explain our efforts in developing quantum many-body simulations of a new universality class of "deconfined" quantum critical points.