# Nonperturbative Renormalization Group Function for Quantum Hall Plateau Transitions Imposed by Global Symmetries

## Abstract

As a unified theory of integer and fractional quantum Hall plateau transitions, a nonperturbative theory of the two-parameter scaling renormalization group function is presented. By imposing global symmetries known as “the law of corresponding states”, we seek a possible form of renormalization group flows. Asking for consistency with the result from weak-localization perturbation theory, such restriction is so intense that we can analytically determine its concrete form. Accordingly, the critical exponent $`\nu `$ and the irrelevant scaling index $`y`$ are obtained analytically and turn out to be irrational. Their values ($`\nu 2.1`$, $`y0.3`$) agree favorably well with experiments and numerics.

Extensive studies of years have revealed that electronic systems in strong magnetic field not only possess precisely quantized Hall conductance, but also exhibit rich structures of stable phases (quantum Hall states) and quantum phase transitions. While understanding on various bulk and edge properties of stable phases in integer and fractional regimes have made a considerable progress , our understanding is still limited on the nature of quantum Hall transitions, namely, quantum phase transitions occurring between Hall plateaus. In particular, one of the theoretical challenges is to obtain analytically the value of the critical exponent which is observed ubiquitously for integer and fractional quantum Hall transitions both in experiments and numerics .

In this Letter, we provide a new and fully nonperturbative treatment for quantum Hall transitions, based on the two-parameter scaling theory . In search of a unified scaling description of quantum Hall transitions both in integer and fractional regimes, we require renormalization group (RG) flows to manifest discrete symmetries suggested by “the law of corresponding states” . Satisfying such symmetric constraint, an explicit form of RG function is carefully constructed to be consistent with the results from weak-localization theory. The obtained result enables us to find analytically the critical exponent $`\nu `$ of the correlation length and the irrelevant scaling index $`y`$ by expanding around the critical point.

The present work shares a lot in the spirit with recent remarkable progress in $`N=2`$ supersymmetric (SUSY) Yang-Mills theory, initiated by Seiberg and Witten . Subsequently, the nonperturbative form of RG function was determined exactly by utilizing discrete symmetries present in the model . We should keep in mind, however, a crucial difference between these two models: the theory of quantum Hall transitions does not possess $`N=2`$ SUSY, as is seen from the large-conductance expansion of the standard weak-localization theory, or a corresponding 2D nonlinear $`\sigma `$-model ,

$$\frac{d\mathrm{ln}\sigma _{xx}}{d\mathrm{ln}L}=\frac{1}{2\pi ^2\sigma _{xx}^2}\frac{C}{\sigma _{xx}^4}+\mathrm{},$$
(1)   
where $`C`$ is some constant. It shows, in contrast with the Yang-Mills theory, that higher-loop corrections exist in the theory, hence holomorphic property of $`N=2`$ SUSY cannot be used to investigate the problem. Notwithstanding it is emphasized that what is important below is the presence of infinite-dimensional discrete symmetries , not $`N=2`$ SUSY.

Discrete symmetries that we are going to utilize are the ones proposed in Ref. , to account for the observed superuniversality of integer and fractional quantum Hall transitions , as well as the geometry of the global phase diagram . Symmetrical transformations are composed of equivalence by Landau level addition and/or by flux-attachment (as well as particle-hole transformation which we will not use explicitly below). By introducing the complexified conductance $`\tau \sigma _{xy}+i\sigma _{xx}`$ (measured in the unit of $`e^2/h`$), the content of this equivalence on the parameter space $`(\sigma _{xy},\sigma _{xx})`$ can be neatly related to modular transformations: translation $`\tau T\tau =\tau +1`$, and inversion $`\tau S\tau =1/\tau `$ . In fact, elementary transformations of the laws of corresponding states are given by

$`T`$ $`:\tau \tau +1\text{(Landau-level-addition)},`$   
$`ST^2S`$ $`:{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\tau }}{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\tau }}2\text{(flux-attachment)}.`$   
Hence the relevant symmetry is a subgroup of $`SL(2,)`$ generated by $`T`$ and $`ST^2S`$. This group is customarily designated as $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$ in literatures , and we will follow this convention below. The critical point of the integer quantum Hall transitions of the lowest Landau level is found to be $`(\sigma _{xy}^c,\sigma _{xx}^c)=(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})`$ or $`\tau _c=\frac{1+i}{2}`$ , and so are expected all the equivalent points $`\gamma \tau _c`$ by transformations $`\gamma \mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$. Of course, such equivalence exists only approximately in any real system. We, however, take this as exact symmetry, and will explore its consequence on RG flows and critical exponents, without asking its microscopic origin. It is remarked that both the duality and the semicircle laws  were already presented implicitly in Ref. , and RG flows of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$ will give a natural explanation for it.

As a phenomenological theory for integer quantum Hall transitions, the two-parameter scaling theory  has been quite successful to analyze data from experiments and numerics , though it fails to predict the values of the critical exponents theoretically so far. Plateau transitions are believed to be the second-order, so that $`\beta `$-function is expected to have a linear deviation $`\delta \tau `$ around the transition points, say, $`\tau _c`$. By introducing the complexified RG function

$$\beta (\tau ,\overline{\tau })=\frac{d\tau }{d\mathrm{ln}L}=\frac{d\sigma _{xy}}{d\mathrm{ln}L}+i\frac{d\sigma _{xx}}{d\mathrm{ln}L},$$
(2)   
the critical behavior is encoded in the form,

$`\beta (\tau ,\overline{\tau })`$ $`\nu ^1\mathrm{Re}\delta \tau y\mathrm{Im}\delta \tau +\mathrm{}.`$ (3)   
Here we have attached $`\tau `$ and $`\overline{\tau }`$ as arguments of $`\beta `$ to remind that it is non-analytical, as already suggested in Eq. (1). The critical exponent $`\nu `$ characterizes the divergence of the correlation length, and $`y`$ corresponds to the largest irrelevant scaling index. Experimental and numerical observed values consistently show $`\nu 2.3\pm 0.1`$ and $`y0.4`$ . Theoretical attempts to derive such $`\beta `$-function were made in Ref.  by using instanton-approximation of nonlinear $`\sigma `$-model with a topological term. In the complex notations, the result was

$$\beta (\tau ,\overline{\tau })\frac{i/2\pi ^2}{\mathrm{Im}\tau }\frac{iC}{(\mathrm{Im}\tau )^3}iD(\mathrm{Im}\tau )^ne^{2i\pi \overline{\tau }},$$
(4)   
where $`D`$ is a constant, and we add as the second term the four-loop contribution from Eq. (4). Although actual values of $`\nu `$ and $`y`$ cannot be evaluated from here, Eq. (4) tells us the (nonperturbative) asymptotics of RG function for $`\tau +i\mathrm{}`$ .

Discrete symmetries $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$ imposed by the laws of corresponding states, constrain possible RG flows considerably. It means, for instance, knowing the form Eq. (3) around $`\tau _c`$ immediately enables us to have RG flows around all the equivalent transition points $`\gamma \tau _c`$ for $`\gamma \mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$. Mathematically, it requires that for the symmetry transformation $`\tau \gamma \tau =(a\tau +b)/(c\tau +d)`$, $`\beta `$-function should satisfy the functional relation ,

$`\beta (\gamma \tau ,\gamma \overline{\tau })`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{d(\gamma \tau )}{d\mathrm{ln}L}}=(c\tau +d)^2\beta (\tau ,\overline{\tau }).`$ (5)   
Functions with such property are termed as automorphic functions with weight $`(2,0)`$ . In general, automorphic functions with weight $`(k,k^{})`$ are defined similarly by the functional relation

$$F(\gamma \tau ,\gamma \overline{\tau })=(c\tau +d)^k(c\overline{\tau }+d)^k^{}F(\tau ,\overline{\tau }).$$
(6)   
Basic building blocks to construct automorphic functions are the analytical function $`f(\tau )`$ which remains invariant under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$, and the Eisenstein series $`G_2^{(ij)}`$, which turn out to be non-analytical . They are defined by

$`f(\tau )={\displaystyle \frac{\vartheta _3^4(0|\tau )\vartheta _4^4(0|\tau )}{\vartheta _2^8(0|\tau )}},`$ (7)   
$`G_2^{(ij)}(\tau ,\overline{\tau })=\underset{s0}{lim}{\displaystyle _{}^{}{}_{(m,n)(ij)}{}^{}}{\displaystyle \frac{1}{(m\tau +n)^2|m\tau +n|^s}},`$ (8)   
where $`\vartheta _a(u|\tau )`$ are elliptic theta functions , and the summation on the second line is taken over two integers $`(m,n)`$ satisfying $`mi`$ and $`njmod2`$ except for $`(0,0)`$. Among them, $`G_2^{(00)}`$ and $`G_2^{(01)}`$ become automorphic with weight $`(2,0)`$ under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$. For our purpose below, it is instead more convenient to use the following pair of linear combinations ,

$`\varphi _0(\tau ,\overline{\tau })`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{2}{\pi }}\left[G_2^{(01)}(\tau ,\overline{\tau })3G_2^{(00)}(\tau ,\overline{\tau })\right]`$ (11)   
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{Im}\tau }}+16\pi {\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{ne^{2in\pi \tau }}{1e^{4in\pi \tau }}},`$   
$`\varphi _1(\tau )`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{6}{\pi ^2}}\left[G_2^{(01)}(\tau ,\overline{\tau })G_2^{(00)}(\tau ,\overline{\tau })\right]`$ (13)   
$`=1+24{\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{ne^{2in\pi \tau }}{1+e^{2in\pi \tau }}}.`$   
Our choice of $`\{\varphi _0,\varphi _1\}`$ is made to sort out different analyticity and different $`\tau +i\mathrm{}`$ asymptotic,

$`\varphi _0(\tau ,\overline{\tau }){\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{Im}\tau }}+16\pi e^{2i\pi \tau }+32\pi e^{4i\pi \tau }+\mathrm{},`$ (15)   
$`\varphi _1(\tau )1+24e^{2i\pi \tau }+24e^{4i\pi \tau }+\mathrm{}.`$ (16)   
$`\varphi _1`$ is holomorphic and related to $`f`$ by $`\varphi _1=(i/2\pi )f^{}/f`$. It is easy to see that the inverse and the complex conjugate of $`\varphi _{0,1}`$ behave automorphically with weight $`(2,0)`$ and $`(0,2)`$, respectively.

We use $`f`$ and $`\varphi _{0,1}`$ to construct $`\beta `$-function of quantum Hall transitions with desired properties, Eqs. (3,4). To illustrate the steps, it is instructive to mention a recent neat derivation  of RG function $`\beta _{\mathrm{SYM}}`$ in SUSY Yang-Mills theory, where $`N=2`$ SUSY makes a procedure much simpler. Note that low-energy effective action of such theory enjoys exactly the same discrete symmetries, $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_0(2)`$, though the phase structure differs. By knowing its holomorphy and the asymptotics $`\beta _{\mathrm{SYM}}(+i\mathrm{})2/i\pi `$, it is required mathematically  that $`(2,0)`$-automorphic function must be expressed in the following form,

$$\beta _{\mathrm{SYM}}(\tau )=\frac{2}{i\pi }\frac{1}{\varphi _1}\frac{𝒫(f)}{𝒬(f)},$$
(17)   
where $`𝒫`$ and $`𝒬`$ are polynomials with the same coefficients for the highest order term to ensure $`𝒫/𝒬1`$ for $`\tau +i\mathrm{}`$. They determine locations of zeros and poles of $`\beta _{\mathrm{SYM}}`$, so govern the phase structure. Putting the other way round, the forms of $`𝒫`$ and $`𝒬`$ can be deduced when we have some grasp of the phase diagram, as is the case of quantum Hall systems. For instance, the correct answer $`𝒫=f\frac{1}{4}`$ and $`𝒬=f`$ could be obtained easily once we knew $`\beta _{\mathrm{SYM}}(\tau _c)=0`$ and $`\beta _{\mathrm{SYM}}(0)=\mathrm{}`$.

We use a similar reasoning to construct the $`\beta `$ function for the quantum Hall transitions. An key observation is that non-holomorphic function $`\beta (\tau ,\overline{\tau })`$ which behaves asymptotically as in Eq. (4) simultaneously satisfies the automorphic condition of weight $`(2,0)`$. Possibility for automorphic functions to have power-law $`(\mathrm{Im}\tau )^n`$ is very much limited. First is to notice that $`\mathrm{Im}\tau `$ itself is automorphic with weight $`(1,1)`$. Another possibility is, similarly to $`G_2^{(ij)}`$, that analytical continuation of Eisenstein series into $`k+k2`$ may produce terms $`(\mathrm{Im}\tau )^{1kk^{}}`$ . It is also seen that the instanton contribution of Eq. (4) appears as a function of $`\overline{\tau }`$. With these observations in mind, to satisfy Eqs. (35), we choose to write down $`\beta `$-function as

$$\beta (\tau ,\overline{\tau })=\frac{i}{2\pi ^2}\frac{\overline{\varphi }_0}{\left(\varphi _1+A\varphi _0\right)\left(\overline{\varphi }_1A\overline{\varphi }_0\right)}\frac{𝒫(f,\overline{f})}{𝒬(f,\overline{f})},$$
(18)   
where $`𝒫`$ and $`𝒬`$ are polynomials of $`f`$ and $`\overline{f}=f(\overline{\tau })`$, satisfying $`𝒫/𝒬1`$ for $`\tau +i\mathrm{}`$. It is remarked that the possibility $`\beta \overline{\varphi }_0`$ was suggested earlier in Ref. . Though we cannot prove that Eq. (18) is the only possible choice compatible with Eqs. (35), requirement is so strict that possibility seems very much restricted.

Based on Eq. (18), we now turn our attention to the critical behavior around $`\tau _c`$. From Eq. (3), a linear deviation is required. On the other hand, it is readily seen that both $`\varphi _0`$ and $`\varphi _1`$ vanish at $`\tau _c`$ . So to ensure the form of Eq. (3), it is necessary to remove such a pole by choosing an appropriate form of polynomial $`𝒫(f,\overline{f})`$. To do so, we first expand $`f`$ and $`\varphi _{0,1}`$ around $`\tau _c`$:

$`\varphi _0(\tau ,\overline{\tau })2ic_0\delta \tau 2i\overline{\delta \tau }+\mathrm{},`$ (20)   
$`\varphi _1(\tau ){\displaystyle \frac{4i}{\pi }}c_0\delta \tau +\mathrm{}`$ (21)   
$`f(\tau ){\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}c_0(\delta \tau )^2+\mathrm{},`$ (22)   
Evaluation of $`c_0`$ may be straightforward but rather laborious . We did it by reducing into elliptic functions of the lemniscate case , to produce

$$c_0=\frac{\mathrm{\Gamma }^8(\frac{1}{4})}{64\pi ^4}4.7892.$$
(23)   
Note that there is no linear deviation in $`f`$, so as to make it possible to remove the pole at $`\tau _c`$ by $`𝒫`$, the denominator

$`(\varphi _1+A\varphi _0)(\overline{\varphi }_1A\overline{\varphi }_0)`$   
$`4c_0A(A+{\displaystyle \frac{2}{\pi }})(\delta \tau )^24c_0A(A{\displaystyle \frac{2}{\pi }})(\overline{\delta \tau })^2`$   
$`4\left[A^2(1+c_0^2){\displaystyle \frac{4c_0^2}{\pi ^2}}\right](\overline{\delta \tau })(\delta \tau )`$   
is required to have no cross term $`(\overline{\delta \tau })(\delta \tau )`$. This determines the value of $`A`$ as

$$A=\frac{2c_0}{\pi \sqrt{1+c_0^2}}.$$
(24)   
(The sign of $`A`$ determines the direction of RG flows as will be seen below, so $`A`$ must be positive.) To cancel out the remaining terms, $`𝒫`$ need to include the factor proportional to

$$4A\left[(A+\frac{2}{\pi })f+(A\frac{2}{\pi })\overline{f}\frac{A}{2}\right].$$
(25)   
In addition, it is expected on physical grounds that there is no other zeros (i.e., transition points) in $`\beta `$-function other than $`\tau _c`$ and equivalent points. Hence $`𝒫`$ must be a linear function of $`f`$ and $`\overline{f}`$, and we choose as

$$𝒫(f,\overline{f})=f+\overline{f}+\frac{2(f\overline{f})}{\pi A}\frac{1}{2}.$$
(26)   
To determine $`𝒬`$, we recall $`𝒫/𝒬1`$ for $`\tau +i\mathrm{}`$, so $`𝒬(f,\overline{f})`$ must also be a linear polynomial of $`f`$ and $`\overline{f}`$ with the same coefficients of $`𝒫`$. In addition, $`\beta `$ will diverge at zeros of $`𝒬`$. Since only places where $`\beta `$ is allowed to diverge are at the points corresponding to the stable phases (quantum Hall and insulator states), so we conclude that

$$𝒬(f,\overline{f})=f+\overline{f}+\frac{2(f\overline{f})}{\pi A}.$$
(27)   
By combining Eqs. (24,26,27) with Eq. (18) we reach our main result of the paper: the explicit form of $`\beta `$-function.

The result obtained incorporates all nonperturbative effect, so it has its full validity even near the critical points. As a result, we can simply expand $`\beta `$-function around $`\tau _c`$ to evaluate the critical exponents.

$`\beta (\tau ,\overline{\tau }){\displaystyle \frac{c_0+1}{2A\pi ^2}}\mathrm{Re}\delta \tau {\displaystyle \frac{c_01}{2A\pi ^2}}\mathrm{Im}\delta \tau +\mathrm{}.`$ (28)   
By comparing this with Eq. (3), we can readily read off the values of the critical exponents $`\nu `$ and $`y`$,

$`\nu ={\displaystyle \frac{4\pi c_0}{(1+c_0)\sqrt{1+c_0^2}}}2.12,`$ (30)   
$`y={\displaystyle \frac{(c_01)\sqrt{1+c_0^2}}{4\pi c_0}}0.31.`$ (31)   
where $`c_0`$ is defined by Eq. (23).

In conclusion, to investigate the transition between quantum Hall plateaus, we have constructed RG $`\beta `$-function by requiring discrete symmetries of the global phase diagram. A possible form of RG function was presented explicitly, and the critical exponent $`\nu `$ and the irrelevant scaling index $`y`$ were extracted analytically. These values have turned out to be irrational and suggests $`\nu 2.12`$ and $`y0.31`$. Although there is still a small discrepancy with observed values in experiments and numerics ($`\nu 2.4`$ and $`y0.4`$), they agree fairly well. It is striking that simple notion of two-parameter scaling can provide a quantitative prediction of the critical behaviors, with the help of such symmetry consideration. The implication of irrational critical exponents is not clear at present, though. Finally it is also remarked that the present construction will be of interest in the study Yang-Mills theory as well, since it provides means to construct RG functions for systems without $`N=2`$ SUSY, but with an approximate modular invariant phase diagram.

The author acknowledges the hospitality at ICTP, Trieste, where part of the work was done during participating in the workshop Disorder, Chaos and Interaction in Mesoscopic Systems.