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Quantum Hall Physics from Noncommutative Field Theory

Probability

Speaker: Mark van Raamsdonk, Stanford University
Location: 593 Kerr
Start time: Tue, Nov 20 2001, 4:10PM

In this talk, I'll show that noncommutative Chern-Simons theory at level k reproduces various properties of a 2D system of electrons in the lowest Landau level at filling fraction 1/k, as suggested recently by Susskind. In particular, I'll determine a complete basis of exact wavefunctions for a matrix regulated version of the noncommutative Chern-Simons theory and show that these are in one-to-one correspondence with the set of Laughlin-type wavefunctions describing excitations of a droplet of quantum Hall fluid. Very little prior knowledge of quantum Hall physics or of noncommutative field theory should be required to follow the talk.

Andrew Waldron is the host.