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Hidden order in dielectrics: string condensation, solitons, and the charge-vortex duality
by Sergei Khlebnikov
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Sergei Khlebnikov |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | scipost_202411_00025v2 (pdf) |
| Date accepted: | Dec. 4, 2025 |
| Date submitted: | July 30, 2025, 9:53 p.m. |
| Submitted by: | Sergei Khlebnikov |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
|---|---|
| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approach: | Theoretical |
Abstract
Description of electrons in a dielectric as solitons of the polarization field holds promise as a method for computer simulations of the dynamics of excited states. For that description to be realistic, the interaction between the solitons (prior to their coupling to electromagnetism) must be short-ranged. We present an analytical study of the mechanism by which this is achieved. It is unusual in that it enables screening of electrically neutral soliton cores by polarization charges. We also argue that the structure of the solitons allows them to be quantized as either fermions or bosons. At the quantum level, the theory has, in addition to the solitonic electric, elementary magnetic excitations, which give rise to a topological contribution to the magnetic susceptibility. We suggest that this effect may be enhanced in radiatively excited states of small crystals.
Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations
- Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
- Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
- Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
- Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block
Author comments upon resubmission
Dear Editors,
I herewith resubmit my paper "Hidden order in dielectrics: ..." to SciPost Physics. In response to the referee comments, the paper has been reorganized and additional derivations have been included, as described below. Broadly speaking: (1) calculations related to screening in the two-dimensional case have been moved to the new Appendix A, which also includes additional technical details (as per a comment by Referee 1), while the main text now deals primarily with three dimensions; (2) the review section (Sec. 2) has been significantly expanded, to make the paper self-contained (as per a comment by Referee 2).
I have also expanded the Introduction, which now includes a table comparing the screening effect discussed in this paper to magnetic screening in superconductors.
The numbered changes requested by Referee 1 have been implemented as follows:
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The typo has been fixed (thank you!).
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A justification of the form of the static energy functional is now given in Sec. 2.2, starting from the more general expression (12) and including a general discussion of capacitive terms.
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Discussion of the form of V(p) (now around Eq. 21) has been rephrased.
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K_0 is now defined in Appendix A (where the 2D case has been moved).
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A derivation of \tilde{\phi} = 0 is also in Appendix A, after Eq. (75).
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A derivation of (32) (now Eq. 39) is now provided in the paragraph containing it.
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Justification of the form of S_E (now Eq. 61) is now given just above that equation.
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There is now a detailed discussion of the dilute instanton approximation (Eqs. 64, 65), leading to Eq. (66) (formerly Eq. 44).
The numbered changes requested by Referee 2 have been implemented as follows:
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The parameter \mu, while in principle important, does not affect the discussion of observability in Sec. 7 except as a factor in the parameter \alpha, Eq. (17). This is now stated just above Eq. (17). An estimate for \alpha is given shortly after that, following Eq. (20). Also, the effect discussed in Sec. 7, being magnetic rather than electric, does not depend on the statistics of the solitons. This is now stated explicitly in the last paragraph of Sec. 5.
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The paper has been made self-contained by expanding the review Sec. 2.
Sincerely, Sergei Khlebnikov
List of changes
Current status:
Editorial decision:
For Journal SciPost Physics: Publish
(status: Editorial decision fixed and (if required) accepted by authors)
Reports on this Submission
Report
In lights of the extensive efforts made by the author to improve the manuscript's readability and overall structure, I would recommend it for a publication in SciPost Physics.
Recommendation
Publish (meets expectations and criteria for this Journal)
Strengths
2 - At the quantum level, the theory has, in addition to the solitonic electric, elementary magnetic excitations, which give rise to a topological contribution to the magnetic susceptibility.
3 - Prospects for observability are discussed.
Weaknesses
Report
The manuscript easily meets two criteria of SciPost Physics. It provides a novel link between different research areas and it opens a new pathway in an existing research direction, with clear potential for follow-up work.
Due to the reasons mentioned above the manuscript should be published by SciPost Physics as it stands.
Requested changes
None
Recommendation
Publish (easily meets expectations and criteria for this Journal; among top 50%)