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arXiv:2312.12887

Protected edge modes based on the bulk and boundary renormalization group: A relationship between duality and generalized symmetry

Yoshiki Fukusumi

Published Dec 20, 2023• 0 citations
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Abstract

We propose a theoretical formulation of protected edge modes in the language of quantum field theories based on the contemporary understanding of the renormalization group. We use bulk and boundary renormalization arguments which have never captured enough attention in condensed matter physics and related fields. We revisit various exotic bulk and boundary phenomena in contemporary physics, and one can see the conciseness of our formulations. Moreover, in the systems with open boundaries in general space-time dimensions, we also analyze their implications under general duality implemented by the shift of defects corresponding to generalized symmetries, including higher-form, non-invertible symmetries, in principle. Our formulation opens up a new paradigm to explore the systems with protected edge modes in the established language of the renormalization group.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2312.12887

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We propose a theoretical formulation of protected edge modes in the language of quantum field theories based on the contemporary understanding of the renormalization group. We use bulk and boundary renormalization arguments which have never captured enough attention in condensed matter physics and related fields. We revisit various exotic bulk and boundary phenomena in contemporary physics, and one can see the conciseness of our formulations. Moreover, in the systems with open boundaries in general space-time dimensions, we also analyze their implications under general duality implemented by the shift of defects corresponding to generalized symmetries, including higher-form, non-invertible symmetries, in principle. Our formulation opens up a new paradigm to explore the systems with protected edge modes in the established language of the renormalization group.
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Gapless quantum phases can become distinct when internal symmetries are enforced, in analogy with gapped symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases. However, this distinction does not always lead to protected edge modes, raising the question of how the bulk-boundary correspondence is generalized to gapless cases. We propose that the spatial interface between gapless phases -- rather than their boundaries -- provides a more robust fingerprint. We show that whenever two 1+1d conformal field theories (CFTs) differ in symmetry charge assignments of local operators or twisted sectors, any symmetry-preserving spatial interface between the theories must flow to a non-invertible defect. We illustrate this general result for different versions of the Ising CFT with Z2×Z2T\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2^TZ2​×Z2T​ symmetry, obtaining a complete classification of allowed conformal interfaces. When the Ising CFTs differ by nonlocal operator charges, the interface hosts 0+1d symmetry-breaking phases with finite-size splittings scaling as 1/L31/L^31/L3, as well as continuous phase transitions between them. For general gapless phases differing by an SPT entangler, the interfaces between them can be mapped to conformal defects with a certain defect 't Hooft anomaly. This classification also gives implications for higher-dimensional examples, including symmetry-enriched variants of the 2+1d Ising CFT. Our results establish a physical indicator for symmetry-enriched criticality through symmetry-protected interfaces, giving a new handle on the interplay between topology and gapless phases.