Gapped boundary theory of the twisted gauge theory model of three-dimensional topological orders

ORAL

Abstract

We extend the twisted gauge theory model of topological orders in three spatial dimensions to the case where the three spaces have two dimensional boundaries. We achieve this by systematically constructing the boundary Hamiltonians that are compatible with the bulk Hamiltonian. Given the bulk Hamiltonian defined by a gauge group G and a four-cocycle ω in the fourth cohomology group of G over U(1), we construct a gapped boundary Hamiltonian using {K, α}, with a subgroup K ⊆ G and a 3-cochain α of K over U(1), which satisfies the generalized Frobenius condition. The Hamiltonian is invariant under the topological renormalization group flow (via Pachner moves). Each solution {K, α} to the generalized Frobenius condition specifies a gapped boundary condition. We derive a closed-form formula of the ground state degeneracy of the model on a three-cylinder, which can
be naturally generalized to three-spaces with more boundaries. We also derive the explicit ground-state wavefunction of the model on a three-ball. The ground state degeneracy and ground-state wavefunction are both presented solely in terms of the input data of the model, namely, {G, ω, K, α}.

Presenters

  • Hongyu Wang

    Fudan University, Physics Department, Fudan University

Authors

  • Hongyu Wang

    Fudan University, Physics Department, Fudan University

  • Yingcheng Li

    Physics Department, Fudan University

  • Yuting Hu

    Fudan University, Department of Physics and Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology

  • Yidun Wan

    Fudan University, Physics Department, Fudan University