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arXiv:2402.19253 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Condensation completion and defects in 2 + 1 D topological orders

Gen Yue, Longye Wang, Tian Lan

Published Aug 14, 2025• 3 citations
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Abstract

We review the condensation completion of a modular tensor category $\mathcal{C}$, which yields a fusion 2-category $Σ\mathcal{C}$ of separable algebras, bimodules over algebras and bimodule maps in $\mathcal{C}$. Physically, $Σ\mathcal{C}$ is the fusion 2-category of codimension-1 defects, codimension-2 defects and instantons in the $2+1$D topological order $\mathcal{C}$. We realize the rough-rough wall and $e$-$m$ exchange wall in Toric Code model on the lattice by deforming the Hamiltonian based on the corresponding algebraic data. We apply condensation completion to Toric Code, $3\mathbf{F}$, two-laryer semion and $\mathbb{Z}_4$ topological orders, and explicitly enumerate their $1$d and $0$d defects along with fusion rules. We also mention other applications of condensation completion: alternative interpretations of condensation completion of a braided fusion category; condensation completion of the category of symmetry charges and its correspondence to gapped phases with symmetry; for a topological order $\mathcal{C}$, one can find all gapped boundaries of the stacking of $\mathcal{C}$ with its time-reversal conjugate through computing the condensation completion of $\mathcal{C}$.

DOI
10.1103/fgnx-t5bj

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We investigate the algebraic theory of symmetry-enriched topological (SET) order in (2+1)D bosonic topological phases of matter and its applications to topological quantum computing. Our goal is twofold: first, to demonstrate how an abstract categorical approach can be applied to understand phenomena in (2+1)D topological phases of matter, and second, to show how ideas from physics can be useful for categorification.After reviewing modular tensor categories (MTCs) and their role as algebraic theories of anyons in topological phases of matter, we recall their associated quantum representations and their interpretation as quantum gates for a topological quantum computer. Next we recall the characterization of SET order in terms of GGG-crossed braided extensions of MTCs and the mathematical formalism of topological quantum computing (TQC) with anyons and symmetry defects.We then apply modular tensor category theory to construct algebraic models of symmetry defects in multi-layer (2+1)D topological order with layer-exchange permutation symmetry. Our main result frames a correspondence between bilayer symmetry enriched topological order and monolayer topological order on surfaces with genus, illuminating a connection between quantum symmetry and topological order that first appeared in the work of condensed matter theorists Barkeshi, Ji, and Qian.
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Instead of constructing anyon condensation in various concrete models, we take a bootstrap approach by considering an abstract situation, in which an anyon condensation happens in a 2-d topological phase with anyonic excitations given by a modular tensor category C; and the anyons in the condensed phase are given by another modular tensor category D. By a bootstrap analysis, we derive a relations between anyons in D-phase and anyons in C-phase from natural physical requirements. It turns out that the vacuum (or the tensor unit) A in D-phase is necessary to be a connected commutative separable algebra in C, and the category D is equivalent to the category of local A-modules as modular tensor categories. This condensation also produces a gapped domain wall with wall excitations given by the category of A-modules in C. More general situation is also discussed in this paper. We will also show how to determine such algebra A from the initial and final data. Multi-condensations and 1-d condensations will also be briefly discussed. Examples will be given in the toric code model, Kitaev quantum double models, Levin-Wen types of lattice models and some chiral topological phases.
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