Mott transition and integrable lattice models in two dimensions

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We describe the two-dimensional Mott transition in a Hubbard-like model with nearest neighbors interactions based on a recent solution to the Zamolodchikov tetrahedron equation, which extends the notion of integrability to two-dimensional lattice systems. At the Mott transition, we find that the system is in a d-density wave or staggered flux phase that can be described by a double Chern Simons effective theory with symmetry 2 ⊗ 2. The Mott transition is of topological nature, characterized by the emergence of vortices in antiferromagnetic arrays interacting strongly with the electric charges and an electric-magnetic duality. We also consider the effect of small doping on this theory and show that it leads to a quantum gas-liquid coexistence phase, which belongs to the Ising universality class and which is consistent with several experimental observations.