Topological BF Research Articles

Spin-charge soldering from tensor Higgs mechanism

Spin-charge separation, a crucial ingredient in 2D models of strongly correlated systems, in mostly considered in condensed matter applications. In this paper we present a relativistic field-theoretic model in which charged particles of spin 1/2 emerge by soldering spinless charges and magnetic vortices in a confinement quantum phase transition modelled as a tensor Higgs mechanism. The model involves two gauge fields, a vector one and a two-form gauge field interacting by the topological BF term. When this tensor gauge symmetry is spontaneously broken charges are soldered to the ends of magnetic vortices and thus confined by a linear potential. If the vector potential has a topological $\theta $-term with value $\theta = \pi$, the constituents of this "meson" acquire spin 1/2 in this transition.

Melonic Phase Transition in Group Field Theory

Group field theories have recently been shown to admit a 1/N expansion dominated by so-called `melonic graphs', dual to triangulated spheres. In this note, we deepen the analysis of this melonic sector. We obtain a combinatorial formula for the melonic amplitudes in terms of a graph polynomial related to a higher dimensional generalization of the Kirchhoff tree-matrix theorem. Simple bounds on these amplitudes show the existence of a phase transition driven by melonic interaction processes. We restrict our study to the Boulatov-Ooguri models, which describe topological BF theories and are the basis for the construction of four dimensional models of quantum gravity.

Block Matrix Representation of a Graph Manifold Linking Matrix Using Continued Fractions

We consider the block matrices and 3-dimensional graph manifolds associated with a special type of tree graphs. We demonstrate that the linking matrices of these graph manifolds coincide with the reduced matrices obtained from the Laplacian block matrices by means of Gauss partial diagonalization procedure described explicitly by W. Neumann. The linking matrix is an important topological invariant of a graph manifold which is possible to interpret as a matrix of coupling constants of gauge interaction in Kaluza-Klein approach, where 3-dimensional graph manifold plays the role of internal space in topological 7-dimensional BF theory. The Gauss-Neumann method gives us a simple algorithm to calculate the linking matrices of graph manifolds and thus the coupling constants matrices.

Symmetry-protected topological phases with charge and spin symmetries: Response theory and dynamical gauge theory in two and three dimensions

A large class of symmetry-protected topological phases (SPT) in boson / spin systems have been recently predicted by the group cohomology theory. In this work, we consider SPT states at least with charge symmetry (U(1) or Z$_N$) or spin $S^z$ rotation symmetry (U(1) or Z$_N$) in 2D, 3D, and the surface of 3D. If both are U(1), we apply external electromagnetic field / `spin gauge field' to study the charge / spin response. For the SPT examples we consider (i.e. U$_c$(1)$\rtimes$Z$^T_2$, U$_s$(1)$\times$Z$^T_2$, U$_c$(1)$\times$[U$_s$(1)$\rtimes$Z$_2$]; subscripts $c$ and $s$ are short for charge and spin; Z$^T_2$ and Z$_2$ are time-reversal symmetry and $\pi$-rotation about $S^y$, respectively), many variants of Witten effect in the 3D SPT bulk and various versions of anomalous surface quantum Hall effect are defined and systematically investigated. If charge or spin symmetry reduces to Z$_N$ by considering charge-$N$ or spin-$N$ condensate, instead of the linear response approach, we gauge the charge/spin symmetry, leading to a dynamical gauge theory with some remaining global symmetry. The 3D dynamical gauge theory describes a symmetry-enriched topological phase (SET), i.e. a topologically ordered state with global symmetry which admits nontrivial ground state degeneracy depending on spatial manifold topology. For the SPT examples we consider, the corresponding SET states are described by dynamical topological gauge theory with topological BF term and axionic $\Theta$-term in 3D bulk. And the surface of SET is described by the chiral boson theory with quantum anomaly.

Duality and dimensional reduction of 5D BF theory

A planar boundary introduced à la Symanzik in the 5D topological BF theory, with only the requirements of locality and power counting, allows to uniquely determine a gauge invariant, non-topological 4D Lagrangian. The boundary condition on the bulk fields is interpreted as a duality relation for the boundary fields, in analogy with the fermionization duality which holds in the 3D case. This suggests that the 4D degrees of freedom might be fermionic, although starting from a bosonic bulk theory. The method we propose to dimensionally reduce a Quantum Field Theory and to identify the resulting degrees of freedom can be applied to a generic spacetime dimension.

New Results On Consistent Coupling Between BF Models And Dual Linearized Gravity

Abstract Given the recent renewed interest in alternative description of gravity theories in terms of topological BF models (possibly with extra-constraints) as well as in dual formulations of linearized gravity (DFLG), all consistent interactions in D=6 involving an Abelian BF model with a maximal field spectrum and the DFLG via a massless tensor field with the mixed symmetry of the type (3,1) are considered.

Three-dimensional dynamics of four-dimensional topological BF theory with boundary

We consider the four-dimensional (4D) abelian topological BF theory with a planar boundary, following Symanzik's method. We find the most general boundary conditions compatible with the field equations broken by the boundary. The residual gauge invariance is described by means of two Ward identities which generate a current algebra. We interpret this algebra as canonical commutation relations of fields, which we use to construct a 3D Lagrangian. As a remarkable by-product, we find a (unique) boundary condition which can be read as a duality relation between 3D dynamical variables.

BF theory as an electric Julia-Toulouse condensate

The Julia-Toulouse mechanism is used to show that the topological Abelian BF term may be induced by the condensation of electric charges. As an application we discuss the subtle question of including consistently magnetic defects into the Maxwell-BF theory in a way to avoid the usual problems of current conservation, charge quantization, Elitzur's theorem violation and the reality of the Dirac brane, produced by the non-minimal coupling. We also discuss a new way of obtaining the Dirac's veto, which is based on the so-called Dirac brane symmetry.

A new Hamiltonian for the topological BF phase with spinor networks

We describe fundamental equations which define the topological ground states in the lattice realization of the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\operatorname{SU}(2)$\end{document}SU(2) BF phase. We introduce a new scalar Hamiltonian, based on recent works in quantum gravity and topological models, which is different from the plaquette operator. Its gauge-theoretical content at the classical level is formulated in terms of spinors. The quantization is performed with Schwinger's bosonic operators on the links of the lattice. In the spin network basis, the quantum Hamiltonian yields a difference equation based on the spin 1/2. In the simplest case, it is identified as a recursion on Wigner 6j-symbols. We also study it in different coherent states representations, and compare with other equations which capture some aspects of this topological phase.

From topological insulators to superconductors and confinement

Topological matter in three dimensions (3D) is characterized by the presence of a topological BF term in its long-distance effective action. We show that, in 3D, there is another marginal term that must be added to the action in order to fully determine the physical content of the model. The quantum phase structure is governed by three parameters that drive the condensation of topological defects: the BF coupling, the electric permittivity and the magnetic permeability of the material. For intermediate levels of electric permittivity and magnetic permeability, the material is a topological insulator. We predict, however, new states of matter when these parameters cross critical values: a topological superconductor when the electric permittivity is increased and the magnetic permeability is lowered and a charge confinement phase in the opposite case of low electric permittivity and high magnetic permeability. Synthetic topological matter may be fabricated as 3D arrays of Josephson junctions.

On the Relations between Gravity and BF Theories

We review, in the light of recent developments, the existing relations between gravity and topological BF theories at the classical level. We include the Plebanski action in both self-dual and non-chiral formulations, their generalizations, and the MacDowell-Mansouri action.

Holomorphic Simplicity Constraints for 4d Riemannian Spinfoam Models

Starting from the reformulation of the classical phase space of Loop Quantum Gravity in terms of spinor variables and spinor networks, we build coherent spin network states and show how to use them to write the spinfoam path integral for topological BF theory in terms of Gaussian integrals in the spinors. Finally, we use this framework to revisit the simplicity constraints reducing topological BF theory to 4d Riemannian gravity. These holomorphic simplicity constraints lead us to a new spinfoam model for quantum gravity whose amplitudes are defined as the evaluation of the coherent spin networks.

Lessons from Toy-Models for the Dynamics of Loop Quantum Gravity

We review some approaches to the Hamiltonian dynamics of (loop) quantum gravity, the main issues being the regularization of the Hamiltonian and the continuum limit. First, Thiemann's definition of the quantum Hamiltonian is presented, and then more recent approaches. They are based on toy models which provide new insights into the difficulties and ambiguities faced in Thiemann's construction. The models we use are parametrized field theories, the topological BF model of which a special case is three-dimensional gravity which describes quantum flat space, and Regge lattice gravity.

Holomorphic simplicity constraints for 4D spinfoam models

Within the framework of spinfoam models, we revisit the simplicity constraints reducing topological BF theory to 4D Riemannian gravity. We use the reformulation of SU(2) intertwiners and spin networks in terms of spinors, which has come out from both the recently developed U(N) framework for SU(2) intertwiners and the twisted geometry approach to spin networks and spinfoam boundary states. Using these tools, we are able to perform a holomorphic/anti-holomorphic splitting of the simplicity constraints and define a new set of holomorphic simplicity constraints, which are equivalent to the standard ones at the classical level and which can be imposed strongly on intertwiners at the quantum level. We then show how to solve these new holomorphic simplicity constraints using coherent intertwiner states. We further define the corresponding coherent spin network functionals and introduce a new spinfoam model for 4D Riemannian gravity based on these holomorphic simplicity constraints and whose amplitudes are defined from the evaluation of the new coherent spin networks.

Topological superconductivity, topological confinement, and the vortex quantum Hall effect

Topological matter is characterized by the presence of a topological BF term in its long-distance effective action. Topological defects due to the compactness of the U(1) gauge fields induce quantum phase transitions between topological insulators, topological superconductors and topological confinement. In conventional superconductivity, due to spontaneous symmetry breaking, the photon acquires a mass due to the Anderson-Higgs mechanism. In this paper we derive the corresponding effective actions for the electromagnetic field in topological superconductors and topological confinement phases. In topological superconductors magnetic flux is confined and the photon acquires a topological mass through the BF mechanism: no symmetry breaking is involved, the ground state has topological order and the transition is induced by quantum fluctuations. In topological confinement, instead, electric charge is linearly confined and the photon becomes a massive antisymmetric tensor via the St\"uckelberg mechanism. Oblique confinement phases arise when the string condensate carries both magnetic and electric flux (dyonic strings). Such phases are characterized by a vortex quantum Hall effect potentially relevant for the dissipationless transport of information stored on vortices.

Spin foam models and the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for the quantum 4-simplex

The asymptotics of some spin foam amplitudes for a quantum 4-simplex is known to display rapid oscillations whose frequency is the Regge action. In this note, we reformulate this result through a difference equation, asymptotically satisfied by these models, and whose semi-classical solutions are precisely the sine and the cosine of the Regge action. This equation is then interpreted as coming from the canonical quantization of a simple constraint in Regge calculus. This suggests to lift and generalize this constraint to the phase space of loop quantum gravity parametrized by twisted geometries. The result is a reformulation of the flat model for topological BF theory from the Hamiltonian perspective. The Wheeler-de-Witt equation in the spin network basis gives difference equations which are exactly recursion relations on the 15j-symbol. Moreover, the semi-classical limit is investigated using coherent states, and produces the expected results. It mimics the classical constraint with quantized areas, and for Regge geometries it reduces to the semi-classical equation which has been introduced in the beginning.

Revisiting the simplicity constraints and coherent intertwiners

In the context of loop quantum gravity and spinfoam models, the simplicity constraints are essential in that they allow one to write general relativity as a constrained topological BF theory. In this work, we apply the recently developed U(N) framework for SU(2) intertwiners to the issue of imposing the simplicity constraints to spin network states. More particularly, we focus on solving on individual intertwiners in the 4D Euclidean theory. We review the standard way of solving the simplicity constraints using coherent intertwiners and we explain how these fit within the U(N) framework. Then we show how these constraints can be written as a closed algebra and we propose a set of U(N) coherent states that solves all the simplicity constraints weakly for an arbitrary Immirzi parameter.

Topological BF field theory description of topological insulators

Topological phases of matter are described universally by topological field theories in the same way that symmetry-breaking phases of matter are described by Landau–Ginzburg field theories. We propose that topological insulators in two and three dimensions are described by a version of abelian BF theory. For the two-dimensional topological insulator or quantum spin Hall state, this description is essentially equivalent to a pair of Chern–Simons theories, consistent with the realization of this phase as paired integer quantum Hall effect states. The BF description can be motivated from the local excitations produced when a π flux is threaded through this state. For the three-dimensional topological insulator, the BF description is less obvious but quite versatile: it contains a gapless surface Dirac fermion when time-reversal-symmetry is preserved and yields “axion electrodynamics”, i.e., an electromagnetic E · B term, when time-reversal symmetry is broken and the surfaces are gapped. Just as changing the coefficients and charges of 2D Chern–Simons theory allows one to obtain fractional quantum Hall states starting from integer states, BF theory could also describe (at a macroscopic level) fractional 3D topological insulators with fractional statistics of point-like and line-like objects.

Einsteinian gravity from a spontaneously broken topological BF theory

Recently, (anti-)de Sitter gauge theories of gravity have been reconsidered. We generalize this to a metric-free sl(5,R) gauge framework and apply spontaneous symmetry breaking to the corresponding topological BF scheme. Effectively, we end-up with Einstein spaces with a tiny cosmological constant related to the scale of symmetry breaking. An induced ‘background’ metric emerges from a Higgs-like mechanism. It is indicated how the finiteness of such a deformed topological scheme may convert into asymptotic safeness after quantization of the spontaneously broken model.

Consistent interactions of dual linearized gravity in D=5: couplings with a topological BF model

Under some plausible assumptions, we find that the dual formulation of linearized gravity in D=5 can be nontrivially coupled to the topological BF model in such a way that the interacting theory exhibits a deformed gauge algebra and some deformed, on-shell reducibility relations. Moreover, the tensor field with the mixed symmetry (2,1) gains some shift gauge transformations with parameters from the BF sector.