Topological Field Theory Research Articles

Abelian Duality in Topological Field Theory

We prove a topological version of abelian duality where the gauge groups are finite abelian. The theories are finite homotopy TFTs, topological analogues of the $p$-form $U(1)$ gauge theories. Using Brown-Comenetz duality, we extend the duality to finite homotopy TFTs of $\pi$-finite spectra.

Higher form symmetries TFT in 6d

Symmetries and anomalies of a d-dimensional quantum field theory are often encoded in a (d + 1)-dimensional topological action, called symmetry topological field theory (TFT). We derive the symmetry TFT for the 2-form and 1-form symmetries of 6d (1, 0) field theories, focusing on theories with a single tensor multiplet (rank 1). We implement this by coupling the low-energy tensor branch action to the background fields for the higher-form symmetries and by looking at the symmetry transformation rules on dynamical and background fields. These transformation rules also imply a mixing of the higher-form symmetries in a 3-group structure. For some specific and related higher rank cases, we also derive the symmetry TFT from the holographic dual IIA supergravity solutions. The symmetry TFT action contains a coupling between the 2-form symmetry and the 1-form symmetry backgrounds, which leads to a mixed anomaly between the 1-form symmetries of the 5d KK-theory obtained by circle compactification. We confirm this by a pure 5d analysis provided by the 5d effective low-energy Coulomb branch Lagrangian coupled to background fields. We also derive the symmetry TFT for 5d SU(p) supersymmetric gauge theories with Chern-Simons level q and for 5d theories without non-abelian gauge theory description at low-energy. Finally, we discuss the fate of the 2-form and 1-form symmetry of rank 1 6d field theories when coupled to gravity.

Duality defects in E8

We classify all non-invertible Kramers-Wannier duality defects in the E8 lattice Vertex Operator Algebra (i.e. the chiral (E8)1 WZW model) coming from ℤm symmetries. We illustrate how these defects are systematically obtainable as ℤ2 twists of invariant sub-VOAs, compute defect partition functions for small m, and verify our results against other techniques. Throughout, we focus on taking a physical perspective and highlight the important moving pieces involved in the calculations. Kac’s theorem for finite automorphisms of Lie algebras and contemporary results on holomorphic VOAs play a role. We also provide a perspective from the point of view of (2+1)d Topological Field Theory and provide a rigorous proof that all corresponding Tambara-Yamagami actions on holomorphic VOAs can be obtained in this manner. We include a list of directions for future studies.

On the Moore-Tachikawa varieties

Moore-Tachikawa varieties are certain Hamiltonian holomorphic symplectic varieties conjectured in the context of 2-dimensional topological quantum field theories. We discuss several constructions related to these varieties.

Field theory of higher-order topological crystalline response, generalized global symmetries and elasticity tetrads

I discuss aspects of higher-order topological field theory of crystalline insulators with no other symmetries. I show how the topology and geometry of the crystalline lattice is organized in terms of so-called elasticity tetrads which are ground state degrees of freedom labelling translational lattice topological charges, higher-form conservation laws and responses on sub-dimensional manifolds of the bulk insulator. The quasitopological responses obtained in this way depend on the lattice and its embedding in space, as expected for weak topology. In a topological crystalline insulator, they classify higher-order responses and global symmetries in a transparent fashion in generic dimensions. This hierarchy coincides with the dimensional hierarchy of topological terms, the multipole expansion, and anomaly inflow, related to a mixed number of elasticity tetrads and electromagnetic gauge fields. In the continuum limit of the elasticity tetrads, the semi-classical expansion in momentum space can be used to derive the higher-order or subdimensional topological responses to local U(1) symmetries, such as electromagnetic gauge fields, with explicit formulas for the higher-order quasi-topological invariants in terms of the elasticity tetrads and Green’s functions. The topological responses in arbitrary dimensions are readily generalized to parameter space to allow for e.g. multipole pumping. The simple results further bridge the recently appreciated connections between topological field theory, higher-form symmetries and gauge fields and their relation to fractonic excitations and topological defects with restricted mobility in the elasticity of crystalline insulators.

Universal Non‐Invertible Symmetries

AbstractIt is well‐known that gauging a finite 0‐form symmetry in a quantum field theory leads to a dual symmetry generated by topological Wilson line defects. These are described by the representations of the 0‐form symmetry group which form a 1‐category. We argue that for a d‐dimensional quantum field theory the full set of dual symmetries one obtains is in fact much larger and is described by a ‐category, which is formed out of lower‐dimensional topological quantum field theories with the same 0‐form symmetry. We study in detail a 2‐categorical piece of this ‐category described by 2d topological quantum field theories with 0‐form symmetry. We further show that the objects of this 2‐category are the recently discussed 2d condensation defects constructed from higher‐gauging of Wilson lines. Similarly, dual symmetries obtained by gauging any higher‐form or higher‐group symmetry also form a ‐category formed out of lower‐dimensional topological quantum field theories with that higher‐form or higher‐group symmetry. A particularly interesting case is that of the 2‐category of dual symmetries associated to gauging of finite 2‐group symmetries, as it describes non‐invertible symmetries arising from gauging 0‐form symmetries that act on ‐form symmetries. Such non‐invertible symmetries were studied recently in the literature via other methods, and our results not only agree with previous results, but our approach also provides a much simpler way of computing various properties of these non‐invertible symmetries. We describe how our results can be applied to compute non‐invertible symmetries of various classes of gauge theories with continuous disconnected gauge groups in various spacetime dimensions. We also discuss the 2‐category formed by 2d condensation defects in any arbitrary quantum field theory.

The BV action of 3D twisted R-Poisson sigma models

We determine the solution to the classical master equation for a 3D topological field theory with Wess-Zumino term and an underlying geometrical structure of a twisted R-Poisson manifold on its target space. The graded geometry of the target space departs from the usual QP structure encountered in the AKSZ construction of topological sigma models, the obstruction being attributed to the presence of the Wess-Zumino 4-form. Due to the inapplicability of the AKSZ construction in this case, we set up the traditional BV/BRST formalism for twisted R-Poisson sigma models in any dimension, which feature an open gauge algebra and constitute multiple stages reducible constrained Hamiltonian systems. An unusual feature of the theories is that they exhibit non-linear openness of the gauge algebra, in other words products of the equations of motion appear in them. Nevertheless, we find the BV action in presence of the 4-form twist in 3D, namely for a specific 4-form twisted (pre-)Courant sigma model. Moreover, we provide a complete set of explicit formulas for the off-shell nilpotent BV operator for untwisted R-Poisson sigma models in any dimension.

Higher central charges and topological boundaries in 2+1-dimensional TQFTs

A 2+1-dimensional topological quantum field theory (TQFT) may or may not admit topological (gapped) boundary conditions. A famous necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the existence of a topological boundary condition is that the chiral central charge c_-c− has to vanish. In this paper, we consider conditions associated with ``higher" central charges, which have been introduced recently in the math literature. In terms of these new obstructions, we identify necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a topological boundary in the case of bosonic, Abelian TQFTs, providing an alternative to the identification of a Lagrangian subgroup. Our proof relies on general aspects of gauging generalized global symmetries. For non-Abelian TQFTs, we give a geometric way of studying topological boundary conditions, and explain certain necessary conditions given again in terms of the higher central charges. Along the way, we find a curious duality in the partition functions of Abelian TQFTs, which begs for an explanation via the 3d-3d correspondence.

Towards topological fixed-point models beyond gappable boundaries

We consider fixed-point models for topological phases of matter formulated as discrete path integrals in the language of tensor networks. Such zero-correlation length models with an exact notion of topological invariance are known in the mathematical community as state-sum constructions or lattice topological quantum field theories. All of the established ansatzes for fixed-point models imply the existence of a gapped boundary as well as a commuting-projector Hamiltonian. Thus, they fail to capture topological phases without a gapped boundary or commuting-projector Hamiltonian, most notably chiral topological phases in $2+1$ dimensions. In this work, we present a more general fixed-point ansatz not affected by the aforementioned restrictions. Thus, our formalism opens up a possible way forward towards a microscopic fixed-point description of chiral phases and we present several strategies that may lead to concrete examples. Furthermore, we argue that our more general ansatz constitutes a universal form of topological fixed-point models, whereas established ansatzes are universal only for fixed-points of phases which admit topological boundaries.

Comments on summing over bordisms in TQFT

Recent works in quantum gravity, motivated by the “factorization problem” and “baby universes,” have considered sums over bordisms with fixed boundaries in topological quantum field theory (TQFT). We discuss this construction and observe a curious splitting formula for the total amplitude.

Topological disorder parameter: A many-body invariant to characterize gapped quantum phases

We introduce a many-body topological invariant, called the topological disorder parameter (TDP), to characterize gapped quantum phases with global internal symmetry in (2+1)d. TDP is defined as the constant correction that appears in the ground state expectation value of a partial symmetry transformation applied to a connected spatial region $M$, the absolute value of which scales generically as $\exp(-\alpha l+\gamma)$ where $l$ is the perimeter of $M$ and $\gamma$ is the TDP. Motivated by a topological quantum field theory interpretation of the operator, we show that $e^\gamma$ can be related to the quantum dimension of the symmetry defect, and provide a general formula for $\gamma$ when the entanglement Hamiltonian of the topological phase can be described by a (1+1)d conformal field theory (CFT). A special case of TDP is equivalent to the topological R\'enyi entanglement entropy when the symmetry is the cyclic permutation of the replica of the gapped phase. We then investigate several examples of lattice models of topological phases, both analytically and numerically, in particular when the assumption of having a CFT edge theory is not satisfied. We also consider an example of partial translation symmetry in Wen's plaquette model and show that the result can be understood using the edge CFT. Our results establish a new tool to detect quantum topological order.

Big Bang and Topology

In this paper, we discuss the initial state of the universe at the Big Bang. By using the ideas of Freedman in the proof of the disk embedding theorem for 4-manifolds, we describe the corresponding spacetime as a gravitational instanton. The spatial space is a fractal space (wild embedded 3-sphere). Then, we construct the quantum state from this fractal space. This quantum state is part of the string algebra of Ocneanu. There is a link between the Jones polynomial and Witten’s topological field theory. Using this link, we are able to determine the physical theory (action) as the Chern–Simons functional. The gauge fixing of this action determines the foliation of the spacetime and the smoothness properties. Finally, we determine the quantum symmetry of the quantum state to be the enveloped Lie algebra Uq(sl2(C)), where q is the fourth root of unity.

Reply to "Comment on 'Deformations, relaxation, and broken symmetries in liquids, solids, and glasses: A unified topological field theory' ".

We reply to the Comment by Bryk etal. [Phys Rev. E 106, 036601 (2022)10.1103/PhysRevE.106.036601] on our paper [Phys. Rev. E 105, 024602 (2022)2470-004510.1103/PhysRevE.105.024602].

Comment on "Deformations, relaxation, and broken symmetries in liquids, solids, and glasses: A unified topological field theory".

We discuss a field-theoretical approach to liquids, solids, and glasses, published recently [Phys. Rev. E 105, 034108 (2022)10.1103/PhysRevE.105.034108], which aims to describe these materials in a common formalism. We argue that such a formalism contradicts the known hydrodynamic theory of classical liquids. In particular, the authors miss the important particle-number conservation law and the density fluctuations as a hydrodynamic slow variable. This results in an exotic mechanism of hydrodynamic sound instead of the standard hydrodynamic one due to combined particle-number and momentum conservation, a fact well documented in fluid-mechanics textbooks.

Domain Walls Between 3d Phases of Reshetikhin–Turaev TQFTs

We study surface defects in three-dimensional topological quantum field theories which separate different theories of Reshetikhin–Turaev type. Based on the new notion of a Frobenius algebra over two commutative Frobenius algebras, we present an explicit and computable construction of such defects. It specialises to the construction in Carqueville et al. (Geom Topol 23:781–864, 2019. https://doi.org/10.2140/gt.2019.23.781. arXiv:1705.06085) if all 3-strata are labelled by the same topological field theory. We compare the results to the model-independent analysis in Fuchs et al. (Commun Math Phys 321:543–575, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00220-013-1723-0. arXiv:1203.4568) and find agreement.

The Trace Field Theory of a Finite Tensor Category

Given a finite tensor category $\mathcal {C}$ , we prove that a modified trace on the tensor ideal of projective objects can be obtained from a suitable trivialization of the Nakayama functor as right $\mathcal {C}$ -module functor. Using a result of Costello, this allows us to associate to any finite tensor category equipped with such a trivialization of the Nakayama functor a chain complex valued topological conformal field theory, the trace field theory. The trace field theory topologically describes the modified trace, the Hattori-Stallings trace, and also the structures induced by them on the Hochschild complex of $\mathcal {C}$ . In this article, we focus on implications in the linear (as opposed to differential graded) setting: We use the trace field theory to define a non-unital homotopy commutative product on the Hochschild chains in degree zero. This product is block diagonal and can be described through the handle elements of the trace field theory. Taking the modified trace of the handle elements recovers the Cartan matrix of $\mathcal {C}$

Circuit Complexity in Topological Quantum Field Theory

AbstractQuantum circuit complexity has played a central role in recent advances in holography and many‐body physics. Within quantum field theory, it has typically been studied in a Lorentzian (real‐time) framework. In a departure from standard treatments, we aim to quantify the complexity of the Euclidean path integral. In this setting, there is no clear separation between space and time, and the notion of unitary evolution on a fixed Hilbert space no longer applies. As a proof of concept, we argue that the pants decomposition provides a natural notion of circuit complexity within the category of 2‐dimensional bordisms and use it to formulate the circuit complexity of states and operators in 2‐dimensional topological quantum field theory. We comment on analogies between our formalism and others in quantum mechanics, such as tensor networks and second quantization.

Sequential Measurements, Topological Quantum Field Theories, and Topological Quantum Neural Networks

AbstractWe introduce novel methods for implementing generic quantum information within a scale‐free architecture. For a given observable system, we show how observational outcomes are taken to be finite bit strings induced by measurement operators derived from a holographic screen bounding the system. In this framework, measurements of identified systems with respect to defined reference frames are represented by semantically‐regulated information flows through distributed systems of finite sets of binary‐valued Barwise‐Seligman classifiers. Specifically, we construct a functor from the category of cone‐cocone diagrams (CCCDs) over finite sets of classifiers, to the category of finite cobordisms of Hilbert spaces. We show that finite CCCDs provide a generic representation of finite quantum reference frames (QRFs). Hence the constructed functor shows how sequential finite measurements can induce TQFTs. The only requirement is that each measurement in a sequence, by itself, satisfies Bayesian coherence, hence that the probabilities it assigns satisfy the Kolmogorov axioms. We extend the analysis too develop topological quantum neural networks (TQNNs), which enable machine learning with functorial evolution of quantum neural 2‐complexes (TQN2Cs) governed by TQFTs amplitudes, and resort to the Atiyah‐Singer theorems in order to classify topological data processed by TQN2Cs. We then comment about the quiver representation of CCCDs and generalized spin‐networks, a basis of the Hilbert spaces of both TQNNs and TQFTs. We finally review potential implementations of this framework in solid state physics and suggest applications to quantum simulation and biological information processing.

Gauge symmetry of linearised Nordström gravity and the dual spin two field theory

The field equations are proposed for the third rank tensor field with the hook Young diagram. The equations describe the irreducible spin two massless representation in any dge 3. The starting point of the construction is the linearised system of Einstein equations which includes the Nordström equation. This equation, being considered irrespectively to the rest of the Einstein system, corresponds to the topological field theory. The general solution is a pure gauge, modulo topological modes which we neglect in this article. We find the sequence of the reducible gauge transformations for the linearised Nordström equation, with the hook tensor being the initial gauge symmetry parameter. By substituting the general solution of the Nordström equation into the rest of the Einstein’s system, we arrive at the field equations for the hook tensor. The degree of freedom number count confirms, it is the spin two theory.

Symplectic reduction along a submanifold

We introduce the process of symplectic reduction along a submanifold as a uniform approach to taking quotients in symplectic geometry. This construction holds in the categories of smooth manifolds, complex analytic spaces, and complex algebraic varieties, and has an interpretation in terms of derived stacks in shifted symplectic geometry. It also encompasses Marsden–Weinstein–Meyer reduction, Mikami–Weinstein reduction, the pre-images of Poisson transversals under moment maps, symplectic cutting, symplectic implosion, and the Ginzburg–Kazhdan construction of Moore–Tachikawa varieties in topological quantum field theory. A key feature of our construction is a concrete and systematic association of a Hamiltonian $G$-space $\mathfrak {M}_{G, S}$ to each pair $(G,S)$, where $G$ is any Lie group and $S\subseteq \mathrm {Lie}(G)^{*}$ is any submanifold satisfying certain non-degeneracy conditions. The spaces $\mathfrak {M}_{G, S}$ satisfy a universal property for symplectic reduction which generalizes that of the universal imploded cross-section. Although these Hamiltonian $G$-spaces are explicit and natural from a Lie-theoretic perspective, some of them appear to be new.