Quantum Hall transitions are the quantum phase transitions that occur between different robustly quantized electronic phases of the
quantum Hall effect. The robust quantization of these electronic phases is due to strong localization of electrons in their disordered, two-dimensional potential (see
Anderson localization). But, at the quantum Hall transition, the electron gas delocalizes as can be observed in the laboratory. This phenomenon is understood in the language of
topological field theory. Here, a
vacuum angle (or 'theta angle') distinguishes between topologically different sectors in the vacuum. These topological sectors correspond to the robustly quantized phases. The quantum Hall transitions can then be understood by looking at the topological excitations (i
nstantons) that occur between those phases.