Quantum Criticality of U(1) Gauge Theories with Fermionic and Bosonic Matter in Two Spatial Dimensions

Abstract

We consider relativistic \(U(1)\) gauge theories in \(2+1\) dimensions, with \(N_b\) species of complex bosons and \(N_f\) species of Dirac fermions at finite temperature. The quantum phase transition between the Higgs and Coulomb phases is described by a conformal field theory (CFT). At large \(N_b\) and \(N_f\), but for arbitrary values of the ratio \(N_b∕N_f\), we present computations of various critical exponents and universal amplitudes for these CFTs. We make contact with the different spin liquids, charge liquids, and deconfined critical points of quantum magnets that these field theories describe. We compute physical observables that may be measured in experiments or numerical simulations of insulating and doped quantum magnets.