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arXiv:2605.12601

Lattice Gauging Interfaces and Noninvertible Defects in Higher Dimensions

David Hofmeier, Giovanna Pimenta, Weiguang Cao

Published May 12, 2026• 0 citations
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Abstract

We study gauging interfaces and their defect descendants in lattice models with generalized symmetries in higher dimensions. We construct explicit interface Hamiltonians for gauging a $\mathbb Z_2^{(0)}$ symmetry in $(2+1)d$ and a $\mathbb Z_2^{(1)}$ symmetry in $(3+1)d$. In higher dimensions, and especially in the presence of higher-form symmetries, the topological nature of gauging interfaces is obscured by the fact that the constrained Hilbert space depends on the location of the interface. We resolve this by introducing movement operators acting on a common unconstrained Hilbert space, which transport both the interface Hamiltonians and the associated constraints. As applications, we analyze condensation defects obtained from finite-region gauging and reconstruct the gauging map from movement operators. Finally, we apply the same framework to subgroup gauging, focusing on the example of gauging $\mathbb Z_2\subset \mathbb Z_4$. This produces a dual symmetry carrying a mixed anomaly, which we diagnose on the lattice through symmetry fractionalization on condensation defects. Our results provide an explicit lattice framework for studying topological interfaces, condensation defects, and the associated anomalies arising from gauging in higher-dimensional systems.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2605.12601

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We study gauging interfaces and their defect descendants in lattice models with generalized symmetries in higher dimensions. We construct explicit interface Hamiltonians for gauging a Z2(0)\mathbb Z_2^{(0)}Z2(0)​ symmetry in (2+1)d(2+1)d(2+1)d and a Z2(1)\mathbb Z_2^{(1)}Z2(1)​ symmetry in (3+1)d(3+1)d(3+1)d. In higher dimensions, and especially in the presence of higher-form symmetries, the topological nature of gauging interfaces is obscured by the fact that the constrained Hilbert space depends on the location of the interface. We resolve this by introducing movement operators acting on a common unconstrained Hilbert space, which transport both the interface Hamiltonians and the associated constraints. As applications, we analyze condensation defects obtained from finite-region gauging and reconstruct the gauging map from movement operators. Finally, we apply the same framework to subgroup gauging, focusing on the example of gauging Z2⊂Z4\mathbb Z_2\subset \mathbb Z_4Z2​⊂Z4​. This produces a dual symmetry carrying a mixed anomaly, which we diagnose on the lattice through symmetry fractionalization on condensation defects. Our results provide an explicit lattice framework for studying topological interfaces, condensation defects, and the associated anomalies arising from gauging in higher-dimensional systems.
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