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Conformal Field Theory of Composite Fermions

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
 [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Physics, Stockholm University AlbaNova University Center, SE-106 91 Stockholm (Sweden)
  2. Physics Department, 104 Davey Lab, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (United States)
  3. Department of Physics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048 Blindern, 0316 Oslo (Norway)

We show that the quantum Hall wave functions for the ground states in the Jain series {nu}=n/(2np+1) can be exactly expressed in terms of correlation functions of local vertex operators V{sub n} corresponding to composite fermions in the nth composite-fermion (CF) Landau level. This allows for the powerful mathematics of conformal field theory to be applied to the successful CF phenomenology. Quasiparticle and quasihole states are expressed as correlators of anyonic operators with fractional (local) charge, allowing a simple algebraic understanding of their topological properties that are not manifest in the CF wave functions. Moreover, our construction shows how the states in the {nu}=n/(2np+1) Jain sequence may be interpreted as condensates of quasiparticles.

OSTI ID:
20955475
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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