Reduction and emergence in the fractional quantum Hall state

Lancaster, T.; Pexton, M.

Abstract

We present the fractional quantum Hall (FQH) effect as a candidate emergent phenomenon. Unlike some other putative cases of condensed matter emergence (such as thermal phase transitions), the FQH effect is not based on symmetry breaking. Instead FQH states are part of a distinct class of ordered matter that is defined topologically. Topologically ordered states result from complex long-ranged correlations between their constituent parts, such that the system displays strongly irreducible, qualitatively novel properties.

Citation

Lancaster, T., & Pexton, M. (2015). Reduction and emergence in the fractional quantum Hall state. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 52(Part B), 343-357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2015.10.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 12, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Nov 3, 2015
• Publication Date: Nov 3, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 3, 2017
• Journal: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
• Print ISSN: 1355-2198
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52
• Issue: Part B
• Pages: 343-357
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2015.10.004
• Keywords: Emergence, Condensed matter physics, Many-body quantum mechanics, Quantum field theory, Quantum Hall effect.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1398326