Physics (Internal)

 

Research Interests:

Electron fractionalization in graphene-like structures

Electron fractionalization is intimately related to topology. In one-dimensional systems, such as polyacetelene, fractionally charged states exist at domain walls between degenerate vacua. In two-dimensional systems, fractionalization exists in quantum Hall fluids, where time-reversal symmetry is broken by a large external magnetic field. Recently, there has been a tremendous effort in the search for examples of fractionalization in two-dimensional systems with time-reversal symmetry. In this research work, we showed that fractionally charged topological excitations exist in tight-biding systems where time-reversal symmetry is respected.

Selected Publications

“Fractional Quantum Hall States at Zero Magnetic Field” T. Neupert, L. Santos, C. Chamon, and C. Mudry, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 236804 (2011).

“Electron fractionalization in two-dimensional graphenelike structures” C.-Y. Hou, C. Chamon, and C. Mudry, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 186809 (2007).

“Quantum glassiness in strongly correlated clean systems: an example of topological overprotection” Claudio Chamon, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 040402 (2005).

“Quantum pump for spin and charge transport in a Luttinger liquid” Prashant Sharma and Claudio Chamon, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 096401 (2001).

“Solitons in Carbon Nanotubes” Claudio Chamon, Phys. Rev. B 62, 2806 (2000).

For a full list of publications, please see the attached CV.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Honors/Awards:

• American Physical Society Fellow
• Alfred P. Sloan Fellow
• National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Award (1999-2003)

In the news:

• Iadecola and colleagues featured on APS Physics
• Professor Chamon featured in Science News and APS Viewpoint

Research Descriptions:

Electron fractionalization in graphene-like structures

Electron fractionalization is intimately related to topology. In one-dimensional systems, such as polyacetelene, fractionally charged states exist at domain walls between degenerate vacua. In two-dimensional systems, fractionalization exists in quantum Hall fluids, where time-reversal symmetry is broken by a large external magnetic field. Recently, there has been a tremendous effort in the search for examples of fractionalization in two-dimensional systems with time-reversal symmetry.

In this research work, we showed that fractionally charged topological excitations exist in tight-biding systems where time-reversal symmetry is respected. These systems are described, in the continuum approximation, by the Dirac equation in two space dimensions. The topological zero-modes are mathematically similar to fractional vortices in p-wave superconductors. They correspond to a twist in the phase in the mass of the Dirac fermions, akin to cosmic strings in particle physics. The quasiparticle excitations can carry irrational charge and irrational exchange statistics. These excitations can be deconfined at zero temperature, but when they are, the charge re-rationalizes to the value 1/2.

Publications:

Electron fractionalization in two-dimensional graphenelike structures
C.-Y. Hou, C. Chamon, and C. Mudry
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 186809 (2007),
arXiv:cond-mat/0609740

Irrational vs. rational charge and statistics in two-dimensional quantum systems
C. Chamon, C.-Y. Hou, R. Jackiw, C. Mudry, S.-Y. Pi, and A. Schnyder,
arXiv:0707.0293

Electron fractionalization for two-dimensional Dirac fermions
C. Chamon, C.-Y. Hou, R. Jackiw, C. Mudry, S.-Y. Pi, and G. Semenoff,
in preparation