Laughlin wavefunction
Builds on Quantum Hall effect
Definition
Consider electrons in the plane in a perpendicular magnetic field, and measure lengths in units of the magnetic length . Write the position of electron as the complex number . Choose the orientation so that lowest Landau level states are with analytic. For an odd integer , the Laughlin wavefunction is It describes the quantum Hall state at filling fraction .
Remarks
The function is antisymmetric: exchanging and multiplies by and permutes the other factors. It lies in the lowest Landau level, since its prefactor is a polynomial in the . The modulus squared is the Boltzmann weight of a two-dimensional one-component plasma, which shows that the state is a uniform liquid of density in these units.
Example: for , is, up to sign, the Vandermonde determinant , so is the Slater determinant of the orbitals , : the filled lowest Landau level, .
Non-example: for the same formula is symmetric under exchange, so it is not an admissible state of electrons, which are fermions; it describes bosons at .
Reading path
To understand this page from the ground up, read these 2 pages in order. The foundations come first.
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- no evidence level
- Quantum Hall effect concept
- Laughlin wavefunction definition
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | BG0BYJA523 |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://BG0BYJA523 |
| Kind | definition |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 81V70, 81V27 |
| Defines | Laughlin wavefunction |
| Uses | Quantum Hall effect |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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