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Stripe fractionalization: the quantum spin nematic and the Abrikosov lattice
Author(s) -
Zaanen J.,
Nussinov Z.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.200301673
Subject(s) - fractionalization , physics , condensed matter physics , gauge theory , superconductivity , lattice gauge theory , ising model , quantum , quantum mechanics , antiferromagnetism , theoretical physics , law , ethnic group , political science
In part (I) of this two paper series on stripe fractionalization [J. Phys. IV (France) 12 , Prg‐245 (2002)], we argued that in principle the “domain wall‐ness” of the stripe phase could persist in the spin and charge disordered superconductors, and we demonstrated how this physics is in one‐to‐one correspondence with Ising gauge theory. Here we focus on yet another type of order suggested by the gauge theory: the quantum spin nematic. Although it is not easy to measure this order directly, we argue that the superconducting vortices act as perturbations destroying the gauge symmetry locally. This turns out to give rise to a simple example of a gauge‐theoretical phenomenon known as topological interaction. As a consequence, at any finite vortex density a globally ordered antiferromagnet emerges. This offers a potential explanation for recent observations in the underdoped 214 system.