Zero Field Hall Effect in (2+1)-dimensional QED

In QED of two space dimensions, a quantum Hall effect occurs in the absence of any magnetic field. We give a simple and transparent explanation. In solid state physics, the Hall conductivity for non-degenerate ground state is expected to be given by an integer, the Chern number. In our field-free situation, however, the conductivity is $\pm 1/2$ in natural units. We fit this half-integral result into the topological setting and give a geometric explanation reconciling the points of view of QFT and solid state physics. For quasi-periodic boundary conditions, we calculate the finite size correction to the Hall conductivity. Applications to graphene and similar materials are discussed

About Twistor Spinors with Zero in Lorentzian Geometry

We describe the local conformal geometry of a Lorentzian spin manifold $(M,g)$ admitting a twistor spinor $\phi$ with zero. Moreover, we describe the shape of the zero set of $\phi$. If $\phi$ has isolated zeros then the metric $g$ is locally conformally equivalent to a static monopole. In the other case the zero set consists of null geodesic(s) and $g$ is locally conformally equivalent to a Brinkmann metric. Our arguments utilise tractor calculus in an essential way. The Dirac current of $\phi$, which is a conformal Killing vector field, plays an important role for our discussion as well