CMT Student Seminar: Seth Musser

** This is a new weekly seminar for local condensed matter theory students and postdocs to present their work to one another. Everyone is welcome! If you're interested in presenting at a future seminar, please send a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. **
 
Time:  Thursday, April 3 2025 - 1:00-2:00pm
Location:  ATL 3100A and Virtual Via Zoom: https://umd.zoom.us/j/94978519761

Speaker: Seth Musser, UMD
Title: Ordering the topological order in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE)

Abstract: Inspired by the recent observation of the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect in Van der Waals materials, I will discuss how to classify the topological order of various quantum Hall systems when given the value of the Hall conductivity. Interestingly almost all numerically and experimentally realized FQH states are found to have the smallest number of anyons possible, given sigmaH. For example if sigmaH = 5/2 there are eight minimal FQH states by anyon count, all related to Moore-Read, and these are the only orders found. I will close by discussing how to use the modern understanding of higher-form symmetries to produce a finite list of consistent FQH states given a few pieces of numerically accessible information.