Anisotropic quantum Hall states in the presence of interactions with fourfold rotational symmetry

Abstract: We study the effects of anisotropic interactions in the quantum Hall effect in the presence of a fourfold discrete rotational ($C_4$) symmetry. Employing the density matrix renormalization group technique on an infinite cylinder geometry (iDMRG), we calculate the anisotropy response of the Laughlin state at $\nu=1/3$ and the composite-Fermi liquid (CFL) state at $\nu=1/2$. We find that the anisotropy transferred from the interaction potential to the $\nu=1/3$ state is stronger when compared to the complementary case of an anisotropic band. Further, the strength of anisotropy reduces as the interaction is made shorter ranged. Quite surprisingly, at $\nu=1/2$, we find that the deformation in the CF Fermi-surface changes sign as the interaction range is reduced. Our results imply that the short-distance and long-distance parts of the interaction potential have opposite effects on the CFL state in the presence of $C_4$-symmetric anisotropy.