Quantum Hall transitions

<p>Quantum Hall transitions are the <a href="/facts/Quantum_phase_transition/XP5W2kYs">quantum phase transitions</a> that occur between different robustly quantized electronic phases of the <a href="/facts/Quantum_Hall_effect/yK3zcCgu">quantum Hall effect</a>. The robust quantization of these electronic phases is due to <a href="/facts/Anderson_localization/LB5Cf5Q5">strong localization</a> of electrons in their disordered, two-dimensional potential. But, at the quantum Hall transition, the electron gas delocalizes as can be observed in the laboratory.  This phenomenon is understood in the language of <a href="/facts/Topological_quantum_field_theory/zHjrp3b8">topological field theory</a>. Here, a <a href="/facts/Theta_vacuum/VyXays9q">vacuum angle</a> (or 'theta angle') distinguishes between topologically different sectors in the vacuum. These topological sectors correspond to the robustly quantized phases. The quantum Hall transitions can then be understood by looking at the topological excitations (<a href="/facts/Instantons/IuXhVcRF">instantons</a>) that occur between those phases.
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Quantum Hall transitions open-in-new

Quantum Hall transitions