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arXiv:2403.04835 · Physical Review Letters

Noninvertible Symmetries, Anomalies, and Scattering Amplitudes

Christian Copetti, Lucía Córdova, Shota Komatsu

Published Oct 30, 2024• 25 citations
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Abstract

We show that crossing symmetry of S matrices is modified in certain theories with noninvertible symmetries or anomalies. Focusing on integrable flows to gapped phases in two dimensions, we find that S matrices derived previously from the bootstrap approach are incompatible with noninvertible symmetries along the flow. We present consistent alternatives, which, however, violate standard crossing symmetry and obey modified rules dictated by fusion categories. We extend these rules to theories with discrete anomalies.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.133.181601

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We show that crossing symmetry of S matrices is modified in certain theories with noninvertible symmetries or anomalies. Focusing on integrable flows to gapped phases in two dimensions, we find that S matrices derived previously from the bootstrap approach are incompatible with noninvertible symmetries along the flow. We present consistent alternatives, which, however, violate standard crossing symmetry and obey modified rules dictated by fusion categories. We extend these rules to theories with discrete anomalies.
A bstract We initiate the S-matrix bootstrap analysis of theories with non-invertible symmetries in (1+1) dimensions. Our previous work [1] showed that crossing symmetry of S-matrices in such theories is modified, with modification characterized by the fusion category data. By imposing unitarity, symmetry and the modified crossing, we constrain the space of consistent S-matrices, identifying integrable theories with non-invertible symmetries at the cusps of allowed regions. We also extend the modified crossing rules to cases where vacua transform in non-regular representations of fusion category, utilizing a connection to a dual category CM∗ {\mathcal{C}}_{\mathcal{M}}^{\ast } CM∗​ C M ∗ and Symmetry Topological Field Theory (SymTFT). This highlights the utility of SymTFT in the analysis of scattering amplitudes.
A bstract We study generalized symmetries of quantum field theories in 1+1D generated by topological defect lines with no inverse. This paper follows our companion paper on gapped phases and anomalies associated with these symmetries. In the present work we focus on identifying fusion category symmetries, using both specialized 1+1D methods such as the modular bootstrap and (rational) conformal field theory (CFT), as well as general methods based on gauging finite symmetries, that extend to all dimensions. We apply these methods to c = 1 CFTs and uncover a rich structure. We find that even those c = 1 CFTs with only finite group-like symmetries can have continuous fusion category symmetries, and prove a Noether theorem that relates such symmetries in general to non-local conserved currents. We also use these symmetries to derive new constraints on RG flows between 1+1D CFTs.
We study generalized discrete symmetries of quantum field theories in 1+1D generated by topological defect lines with no inverse. In particular, we describe 't Hooft anomalies and classify gapped phases stabilized by these symmetries, including new 1+1D topological phases. The algebra of these operators is not a group but rather is described by their fusion ring and crossing relations, captured algebraically as a fusion category. Such data defines a Turaev-Viro/Levin-Wen model in 2+1D, while a 1+1D system with this fusion category acting as a global symmetry defines a boundary condition. This is akin to gauging a discrete global symmetry at the boundary of Dijkgraaf-Witten theory. We describe how to "ungauge" the fusion category symmetry in these boundary conditions and separate the symmetry-preserving phases from the symmetry-breaking ones. For Tambara-Yamagami categories and their generalizations, which are associated with Kramers-Wannier-like self-dualities under orbifolding, we develop gauge theoretic techniques which simplify the analysis. We include some examples of CFTs with fusion category symmetry derived from Kramers-Wannier-like dualities as an appetizer for the Part II companion paper.
We study generalized symmetries of quantum field theories in 1+1D generated by topological defect lines with no inverse. This paper follows our companion paper on gapped phases and anomalies associated with these symmetries. In the present work we focus on identifying fusion category symmetries, using both specialized 1+1D methods such as the modular bootstrap and (rational) conformal field theory (CFT), as well as general methods based on gauging finite symmetries, that extend to all dimensions. We apply these methods to c=1c = 1c=1 CFTs and uncover a rich structure. We find that even those c=1c = 1c=1 CFTs with only finite group-like symmetries can have continuous fusion category symmetries, and prove a Noether theorem that relates such symmetries in general to non-local conserved currents. We also use these symmetries to derive new constraints on RG flows between 1+1D CFTs.
Spatially modulated symmetries have emerged since the discovery of fractons, which characterize unconventional topological phases with mobility-constrained quasiparticle excitations. On the other hand, noninvertible symmetry operators have attracted substantial attention in communities of high energy and condensed matter physics due to their deep insight into quantum anomalies and exotic phases of matter. However, the connection between these exotic and noninvertible symmetries has not been fully explored. In this paper, we construct concrete lattice models with noninvertible symmetry operators via gauging spatially modulated symmetries and investigate their exotic fusion rules. Specifically, we construct spin models with subsystem symmetries or dipole symmetries on one, two, and three-dimensional lattices. Gauging subsystem symmetries leads to noninvertible symmetry operators whose fusion rules involve 0-form subsystem charges in two dimensions and higher-form operators that correspond to ``lineon'' excitations (excitations which are mobile along one-dimensional line) in three dimensions. Gauging dipole symmetries leads to noninvertible symmetry operators with dipole algebras that describe a hierarchical structure between global and dipole charges. Notably, the hierarchical structure of the dual dipole charges is inverted compared with the original ones. Our work provides a unified and systematic analytical framework for constructing exotic symmetry operators by gauging relevant symmetries.
Our understanding of quantum symmetry of systems has considerably broadened over the last decade. The idea of symmetry has become intrinsically linked with topology described and algebraically characterized by higher categories. Studying three-dimensional systems with noninvertible symmetries, the authors show here that these symmetries are in general incompatible with a unique gapped ground state. Their results extend the ideas behind the Lieb-Shultz-Mattis theorem to the arena of higher-dimensional field theories invariant under a novel class of symmetries.