Topological order and topological entropy in classical systems
Strongly Correlated Electrons
2011-11-09 v2 Statistical Mechanics
Abstract
We show that the concept of topological order, introduced to describe ordered quantum systems which cannot be classified by broken symmetries, also applies to classical systems. Starting from a specific example, we show how to use pure state density matrices to construct corresponding thermally mixed ones that retain precisely half the original topological entropy, a result that we generalize to a whole class of quantum systems. Finally, we suggest that topological order and topological entropy may be useful in characterizing classical glassy systems.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0610316,
title = {Topological order and topological entropy in classical systems},
author = {Claudio Castelnovo and Claudio Chamon and .},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0610316},
year = {2011}
}
Comments
(5 pages, 1 figure) v2: minor changes