Nematic quantum phase transition of composite Fermi liquids in half-filled Landau levels and their geometric response

We present a theory of isotropic-nematic quantum phase transition in the composite Fermi liquid arising in the half-filled Landau levels. We show that the quantum phase transition is triggered by the attractive quadrupolar interaction. By performing flux attachment, system turns into a composite Fermi liquid. The nematic order parameters act as the dynamical metric interplaying with the underlying topology, the Chern-Simons theory. Here both the fluctuations of the gauge field and the nematic order parameter can soften the Fermi surface and thus the fermions form a non-Fermi liquid. The effective field theory for the isotropic-nematic phase transition has z = 3 dynamical exponent due to the Landau damping due to the finite density of the fermions. We show that there is a Berry phase term of the nematic order parameter, which can be interpreted as the “Hall viscosity” of the dynamical metric. We also find the Wen-Zee-like term, which effectively dresses the nematic vortex with the electric charge. Both of the terms are originated from the time reversal breaking fluctuation of the Chern-Simons gauge fields. This indicates the fluctuations of the gauge fields modify the Hall viscosity and orbital spin of the compressible half-filled Landau level.