Three-dimensional Topological Field Theory Research Articles

A non-unitary bulk-boundary correspondence: Non-unitary Haagerup RCFTs from S-fold SCFTs

We introduce a novel class of two-dimensional non-unitary rational conformal field theories (RCFTs) whose modular data are identical to the generalized Haagerup-Izumi modular data. Via the bulk-boundary correspondence, they are related to the three-dimensional non-unitary Haagerup topological field theories, recently constructed by a topological twisting of three-dimensional N=4 rank-zero superconformal field theories (SCFTs), called S-fold SCFTs. We propose that, up to the overall factors, the half-indices of the rank-zero SCFTs give the explicit Nahm representation of four conformal characters of the RCFTs including the vacuum character. Using the theory of Bantay-Gannon, we can successfully complete them into the full admissible conformal characters of the RCFTs.

Three-Dimensional Topological Field Theories and Nonunitary Minimal Models.

We find an intriguing relation between a class of three-dimensional nonunitary topological field theories (TFTs) and Virasoro minimal models M(2,2r+3) with r≥1. The TFTs are constructed by topologically twisting 3D N=4 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) of rank-0, i.e., having zero-dimensional Coulomb and Higgs branches. We present ultraviolet (UV) field theory descriptions of the SCFTs with manifest N=2 supersymmetry, which we argue is enhanced to N=4 in the infrared. From the UV description, we compute various partition functions of the TFTs and reproduce some basic properties of the minimal models, such as their characters and modular matrices. We expect more general correspondence between topologically twisted 3d N=4 rank-0 SCFTs and 2D nonunitary rational conformal field theories.

A G-Equivariant String-Net Construction

We develop a string-net construction for the (2,1)-dimensional part of a G-equivariant three-dimensional topological field theory based on a G-graded spherical fusion category. In this construction, a G-equivariant generalization of the Ptolemy groupoid enters. We compute the associated cylinder categories and show that, as expected, the model is closely related to the G-equivariant Turaev–Viro theory.

On dualizability of braided tensor categories

We study the question of dualizability in higher Morita categories of locally presentable tensor categories and braided tensor categories. Our main results are that the 3-category of rigid tensor categories with enough compact projectives is 2-dualizable, that the 4-category of rigid braided tensor categories with enough compact projectives is 3-dualizable, and that (in characteristic zero) the 4-category of braided multi-fusion categories is 4-dualizable. Via the cobordism hypothesis, this produces respectively two-, three- and four-dimensional framed local topological field theories. In particular, we produce a framed three-dimensional local topological field theory attached to the category of representations of a quantum group at any value of$q$.

Exceptional Chern-Simons-Matter dualities

We use conformal embeddings involving exceptional affine Kac-Moody algebras to derive new dualities of three-dimensional topological field theories. These generalize the familiar level-rank duality of Chern-Simons theories based on classical gauge groups to the setting of exceptional gauge groups. For instance, one duality sequence we discuss is (E_{N})_{1}\leftrightarrow SU(9-N)_{-1}(EN)1↔SU(9−N)−1. Others such as SO(3)_{8}\leftrightarrow PSU(3)_{-6},SO(3)8↔PSU(3)−6, are dualities among theories with classical gauge groups that arise due to their embedding into an exceptional chiral algebra. We apply these equivalences between topological field theories to conjecture new boson-boson Chern-Simons-matter dualities. We also use them to determine candidate phase diagrams of time-reversal invariant G_{2}G2 gauge theory coupled to either an adjoint fermion, or two fundamental fermions.

A Trace for Bimodule Categories

We study a 2-functor that assigns to a bimodule category over a finite \(\Bbbk \)-linear tensor category a \(\Bbbk \)-linear abelian category. This 2-functor can be regarded as a category-valued trace for 1-morphisms in the tricategory of finite tensor categories. It is defined by a universal property that is a categorification of Hochschild homology of bimodules over an algebra. We present several equivalent realizations of this 2-functor and show that it has a coherent cyclic invariance. Our results have applications to categories associated to circles in three-dimensional topological field theories with defects. This is made explicit for the subclass of Dijkgraaf-Witten topological field theories.

On the Brauer Groups of Symmetries of Abelian Dijkgraaf–Witten Theories

Symmetries of three-dimensional topological field theories are naturally defined in terms of invertible topological surface defects. Symmetry groups are thus Brauer-Picard groups. We present a gauge theoretic realization of all symmetries of abelian Dijkgraaf-Witten theories. The symmetry group for a Dijkgraaf-Witten theory with gauge group a finite abelian group $A$, and with vanishing 3-cocycle, is generated by group automorphisms of $A$, by automorphisms of the trivial Chern-Simons 2-gerbe on the stack of $A$-bundles, and by partial e-m dualities. We show that transmission functors naturally extracted from extended topological field theories with surface defects give a physical realization of the bijection between invertible bimodule categories of a fusion category and braided auto-equivalences of its Drinfeld center. The latter provides the labels for bulk Wilson lines; it follows that a symmetry is completely characterized by its action on bulk Wilson lines.

Linking loops in ABJM and refined theory

We consider the link average of the half-BPS Wilson loop operators in N = 6 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theory, which is called ABJM theory. We show that this loop average is reduced to a (super)matrix integral by the localization method, in a similar way to the bosonic U(N) Chern-Simons theory. Using this matrix integral, we compute the two- and three-link averages with an operator formalism inspired by a three-dimensional topological field theory. We obtain a factorization of the link average, and the Verlinde formula in a sector of supergroup representations. We also propose a refined version of ABJM theory, and compute some refined link averages.

A Geometric Approach to Boundaries and Surface Defects in Dijkgraaf–Witten Theories

Dijkgraaf–Witten theories are extended three-dimensional topological field theories of Turaev–Viro type. They can be constructed geometrically from categories of bundles via linearization. Boundaries and surface defects or interfaces in quantum field theories are of interest in various applications and provide structural insight. We perform a geometric study of boundary conditions and surface defects in Dijkgraaf–Witten theories. A crucial tool is the linearization of categories of relative bundles. We present the categories of generalized Wilson lines produced by such a linearization procedure. We establish that they agree with the Wilson line categories that are predicted by the general formalism for boundary conditions and surface defects in three-dimensional topological field theories that has been developed in Fuchs et al. (Commun Math Phys 321:543–575, 2013)

Bicategories for Boundary Conditions and for Surface Defects in 3-d TFT

We analyze topological boundary conditions and topological surface defects in three-dimensional topological field theories of Reshetikhin-Turaev type based on arbitrary modular tensor categories. Boundary conditions are described by central functors that lift to trivializations in the Witt group of modular tensor categories. The bicategory of boundary conditions can be described through the bicategory of module categories over any such trivialization. A similar description is obtained for topological surface defects. Using string diagrams for bicategories we also establish a precise relation between special symmetric Frobenius algebras and Wilson lines involving special defects. We compare our results with previous work of Kapustin-Saulina and of Kitaev-Kong on boundary conditions and surface defects in abelian Chern-Simons theories and in Turaev-Viro type TFTs, respectively.

On the refined counting of graphs on surfaces

Ribbon graphs embedded on a Riemann surface provide a useful way to describe the double-line Feynman diagrams of large N computations and a variety of other QFT correlator and scattering amplitude calculations, e.g. in MHV rules for scattering amplitudes, as well as in ordinary QED. Their counting is a special case of the counting of bi-partite embedded graphs. We review and extend relevant mathematical literature and present results on the counting of some infinite classes of bi-partite graphs. Permutation groups and representations as well as double cosets and quotients of graphs are useful mathematical tools. The counting results are refined according to data of physical relevance, such as the structure of the vertices, faces and genus of the embedded graph. These counting problems can be expressed in terms of observables in three-dimensional topological field theory with Sd gauge group which gives them a topological membrane interpretation.

Three-dimensional topological field theory and symplectic algebraic geometry I

We study boundary conditions and defects in a three-dimensional topological sigma-model with a complex symplectic target space X (the Rozansky–Witten model). We show that boundary conditions correspond to complex Lagrangian submanifolds in X equipped with complex fibrations. The set of boundary conditions has the structure of a 2-category; morphisms in this 2-category are interpreted physically as one-dimensional defect lines separating parts of the boundary with different boundary conditions. This 2-category is a categorification of the Z 2 -graded derived category of X; it is also related to categories of matrix factorizations and a categorification of deformation quantization (quantization of symmetric monoidal categories). In Appendix B we describe a deformation of the B-model and the associated category of branes by forms of arbitrary even degree.

Three-dimensional topological field theory and symplectic algebraic geometry II

Three-dimensional topological field theory and symplectic algebraic geometry II

Universality in Quantum Hall Systems: Coset Construction of Incompressible States

Incompressible Quantum Hall fluids (QHF's) can be described in the scaling limit by three-dimensional topological field theories. Thanks to the correspondence between three-dimensional topological field theories and two dimensional chiral conformal field theories (CCFT's), we propose to study QHF's from the point of view of CCFT's. We derive consistency conditions and stability criteria for those CCFT's that can be expected to describe a QHF. A general algorithm is presented which uses simple currents to construct interesting examples of such CCFT's. It generalizes the description of QHF's in terms of Quantum Hall lattices. Explicit examples, based on the coset construction, provide candidates for the description of Quantum Hall fluids with Hall conductivity σH=1/2(e2/h), 1/4(e2/h), 3/5(e2/h), (e2/h),... .

Conformal boundary conditions and three-dimensional topological field theory

We present a general construction of all correlation functions of a two-dimensional rational conformal field theory, for an arbitrary number of bulk and boundary fields and arbitrary topologies. The correlators are expressed in terms of Wilson graphs in a certain three-manifold, the connecting manifold. The amplitudes constructed this way can be shown to be modular invariant and to obey the correct factorization rules.

ON A CLASS OF TOPOLOGICAL QUANTUM FIELD THEORIES IN THREE DIMENSIONS

We investigate the Chung–Fukuma–Shapere theory, or Kuperberg theory, of three-dimensional lattice topological field theory. We construct a functor which satisfies Atiyah’s axioms of topological quantum field theory by reformulating the theory as a Turaev–Viro type state sum theory on a triangulated manifold. This corresponds to giving the Hilbert space structure to the original theory. The theory can be extended to give a topological invariant of manifolds with boundary.

A CONNECTION BETWEEN LATTICE AND SURGERY CONSTRUCTIONS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL TOPOLOGICAL FIELD THEORIES

We study the relation between lattice construction and surgery construction of three-dimensional topological field theories. We show that a class of the Chung-Fukuma-Shapere theory on the lattice has representation theoretic reformulation which is closely related to the Altschuler-Coste theory constructed by surgery. There is a similar relation between the Turaev-Viro theory and the Reshetikhin-Turaev theory.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL FIELD THEORIES FROM INFINITE-DIMENSIONAL LIE ALGEBRAS

A procedure for constructing topological actions from centrally extended Lie algebras is introduced. For a Kac–Moody algebra, this produces the three-dimensional Chern–Simons theory, while for the Virasoro algebra, the result is a new three-dimensional topological field theory whose physical states satisfy the Virasoro Ward identity. This topological field theory is shown to be a first order formulation of two-dimensional induced gravity in the chiral gauge. The extension to W3 gravity is discussed.

Three-dimensional gravity and string ghosts.

It is known that much of the structure of string theory can be derived from three-dimensional topological field theory and gravity. We show here that, at least for simple topologies, the string diffeomorphism ghosts can also be explained in terms of three-dimensional physics.

A topological field theory associated with monopoles

A three-dimensional topological field theory of the Witten type is constructed. The system consists of an SU (2) gauge field A i a and a Higgs field H a giving rise to monopole sectors. The theory describes the moduli space of monopoles. The complete set of topological invariants of this field theory is written down.