Lattice supersymmetry and order-disorder coexistence in the tricritical Ising model

Journal article

We introduce and analyze a quantum spin or Majorana chain with a tricritical Ising point separating a critical phase from a gapped phase with order-disorder coexistence. We show that supersymmetry is not only an emergent property of the scaling limit but also manifests itself on the lattice. Namely, we find explicit lattice expressions for the supersymmetry generators and currents. Writing the Hamiltonian in terms of these generators allows us to find the ground states exactly at a frustration-free coupling. These confirm the coexistence between two (topologically) ordered ground states and a disordered one in the gapped phase. Deforming the model by including explicit chiral symmetry breaking, we find the phases persist up to an unusual chiral phase transition where the supersymmetry becomes exact even on the lattice.

Authors: O'Brien, E; Fendley, P

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 120
• Issue: 20
• Article number: 206403
• Publication date: 2018-05-17
• Acceptance date: 2018-04-09
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.206403
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007