Transition between algebraic and Z2 quantum spin liquids at large N

We present a field theory description of a quantum phase transition in two spatial dimensions between a $\text{U}(1)$ algebraic spin liquid with $N$ flavors of gapless two-component Dirac fermionic spinons and a gapped ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquid. This transition is driven by spinon pairing and concomitant Higgsing of the emergent U(1) gauge field. For sufficiently large $N$, we find a quantum critical point with non-Gaussian exponents that is stable against instanton proliferation. We compute critical exponents using either $1/N$ or $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ expansions, and give estimates of the critical value of $N$ below which the quantum critical point disappears.