Second Chern number of a quantum-simulated non-Abelian Yang monopole

Published

June 29, 2018

Author(s)

Ian B. Spielman, Francisco Salces Carcoba, Yuchen Yue, Abigail Perry, Seiji Sugawa

Abstract

Topological order is often quantified in terms of Chern numbers, each of which classifies a topological singularity. Here, inspired by concepts from high-energy physics, we use quantum simulation based on the spin degrees of freedom of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates to characterize a singularity present in five-dimensional non-Abelian gauge theories—a Yang monopole. We quantify the monopole in terms of Chern numbers measured on enclosing manifolds: Whereas the well-known first Chern number vanishes, the second Chern number does not. By displacing the manifold, we induce and observe a topological transition, where the topology of the manifold changes to a trivial state.

Citation

Science

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Magnetic monopole, Yang-Mills field theory, Bose-Einstein condensate

Citation

Spielman, I. , Salces, F. , Yue, Y. , Perry, A. and Sugawa, S. (2018), Second Chern number of a quantum-simulated non-Abelian Yang monopole, Science (Accessed December 2, 2023)