Figure 1
From: Quantum phase transition induced by real-space topology
Schematic illustration of the aim of the present work.
It arises from the fact that the effect of a magnetic field on an object depends on its real-space topology. We consider three cases: (a) A perfect torus, (b) a cut torus, (c) a broken torus. Objects in (a) and (b) have the same real-space topology, while (c) is topologically equivalent to a bar, with different real-space topology. Charged particles in systems (a) and (b) feel the same flux, while (c) cannot feel the existence of the field. The switch of the topology is equivalent to the sudden removal of the applied magnetic field, which may introduce a sudden change of the quantum state at zero temperature.
