GoKawiilResearchers observe critical topological phase transition using acoustic metamaterial
Physicists used an acoustic metamaterial platform to experimentally demonstrate a 'critical topological phase transition,' a phenomenon where topological invariants remain well-defined even at the gapless critical point of a phase transition. They observed topological edge states along critical phase boundaries and confirmed criticality through logarithmic scaling of entanglement entropy, including an additive scaling pattern at a special multicritical point where distinct critical boundaries intersect.
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The result bridges two previously separate frameworks for understanding phase transitions—the Landau-Ginzburg paradigm of continuous transitions and the topological framework of quantized invariants—suggesting these are part of a more unified, hierarchical theory. This could open new directions for studying exotic states of matter where topology and criticality interact, potentially informing future research in condensed matter physics and metamaterial design beyond acoustics.
- An acoustic metamaterial was used to experimentally realize a critical topological phase transition, where topology stays well-defined at a gapless critical point.
- A topology-enforced multicritical point was identified at the intersection of critical boundaries with different topological character.
- Entanglement entropy measurements showed additive logarithmic scaling at the multicritical point, providing direct evidence for this new type of multicriticality.
Source: nature.com — Cheng, 2026-10-07
Published there as: “Observation of critical topological phase transition”
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