Family trees for fractional quantum Hall states

Event Date:
2025-05-26T11:00:00
2025-05-26T12:00:00
Event Location:
HENN 318
Speaker:
Carolyn Zhang, Harvard
URL:
zoom link
Related Upcoming Events:
Other Talks
Intended Audience:
Everyone
Local Contact:

Jeremy Heyl (heyl@phas.ubc.ca)

All are welcome to this talk!

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://ubc.zoom.us/j/63422199875?pwd=cCFuka3YRqX0MaOGixOkrMlpAjXavK.1

Meeting ID: 634 2219 9875
Passcode: 052121

Event Information:

Abstract: 

The fractional quantum Hall (FQH) effect arises in two-dimensional electron systems in strong magnetic fields and leads to exotic phases of matter with emergent quasiparticles known as anyons. These anyons carry fractional electric charge and exhibit braiding properties that go beyond those of bosons and fermions, allowing them to form building blocks for robust quantum codes. However, key features like their braiding properties are notoriously difficult to observe directly in experiments. One approach to gaining insight into a given FQH state — the "parent" — is to study its relationship to nearby "child" states that emerge when the magnetic field is slightly tuned. In this talk, we will present a new and more general framework for constructing FQH families, which can be applied even when previous methods cannot.

Bio: 

Carolyn Zhang received her undergraduate degree from Yale University in 2017 and went on to earn her Ph.D. at the University of Chicago under the supervision of Michael Levin, supported by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the Bloomenthal Fellowship. Since the fall of 2023, she has been a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. Carolyn loves all activities related to mountains, including running, climbing, and hiking.

Learn More:

Add to Calendar 2025-05-26T11:00:00 2025-05-26T12:00:00 Family trees for fractional quantum Hall states Event Information: Abstract:  The fractional quantum Hall (FQH) effect arises in two-dimensional electron systems in strong magnetic fields and leads to exotic phases of matter with emergent quasiparticles known as anyons. These anyons carry fractional electric charge and exhibit braiding properties that go beyond those of bosons and fermions, allowing them to form building blocks for robust quantum codes. However, key features like their braiding properties are notoriously difficult to observe directly in experiments. One approach to gaining insight into a given FQH state — the "parent" — is to study its relationship to nearby "child" states that emerge when the magnetic field is slightly tuned. In this talk, we will present a new and more general framework for constructing FQH families, which can be applied even when previous methods cannot. Bio:  Carolyn Zhang received her undergraduate degree from Yale University in 2017 and went on to earn her Ph.D. at the University of Chicago under the supervision of Michael Levin, supported by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the Bloomenthal Fellowship. Since the fall of 2023, she has been a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. Carolyn loves all activities related to mountains, including running, climbing, and hiking. Learn More: Watch Carolyn's videos: Symmetries: Symmetries 2024: Carolyn Zhang (Harvard) Anyon Condensation and its applications: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8tGIniUxrg Anomalies of (1 + 1)D categorical symmetries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSzBMYEY_q8   Event Location: HENN 318