Here, we provide a simple Hubbard-like model of spin-
1/2 fermions that gives rise to the SU(2)-symmetric Thirring model that is equivalent, in the low-energy limit, to the Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons model. First, we identify the regime that simulates the SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. Then, we suitably extend this model so that it gives rise to the SU(2) Chern-Simons theory with level $k\ensuremath{\ge}2$ that can support non-Abelian anyons. This is achieved by introducing multiple fermionic species and modifying the Thirring interactions, while preserving the SU(2) symmetry. Our proposal provides the means to theoretically and experimentally probe non-Abelian SU(2) level
k topological phases.
Motivated by recent numerical studies where various
SU(2) Chern-Simons-matter theories emerge, we analytically study topological phases and quantum criticality in two-dimensional systems described by such theories. First, we classify
SU(2)k topological orders in all lattice spin systems with a
p4×SO(3) symmetry, where
k is an arbitrary nonzero integer. We find that for each odd
k, the topological order can emerge in systems with an arbitrary Lieb-Schultz-Mattis (LSM) anomaly, and the symmetry cannot permute anyons. If the system has a nontrivial (respectively, trivial) LSM anomaly, then there is exactly one (respectively, nine) symmetry-enriched topological (SET) phases. On the other hand,
SU(2)k topological order with any even
k can only emerge in systems with a trivial LSM anomaly. If
k∈/{6,10,14,⋯}, the symmetry cannot permute anyons, and there are 16 SET phases. If
k∈{6,10,14,⋯}, there are 4 different ways how the symmetry can permute anyons, and there are 64 SET phases. Next, we analyze the
SU(2)k Chern-Simons theories coupled to
Nf flavors of gapless matter fields that can be either bosonic or fermionic. For both types of theories, we consider a joint large-
Nf and large-
k limit with
Nf/k fixed, and compute the scaling dimensions of the bilinear operators of the bosons or fermions to the order of
1/Nf. These results sharpen our understanding of these emergent exotic topological phases and quantum criticality, and provide useful guidance to explore them further.
The model of a topological quantum computer is a promising one due to its natural resistance to noise and other errors. Operations in such a computer are implemented by braiding the trajectories of anyons. While it is easy to understand how to build one-qubit operations, two-qubit operations are more difficult. In arXiv:2412.20931 we suggested an approach to build such operations for a topological quantum computer based on SU(2) Chern-Simons theory with arbitrary level using cabling of knots. In this paper we discuss how this approach should be generalized to the SU(N) case, what the differences are, and which new problems arise.
Abstract Chern–Simons theory in application to the quantum computing is actively developing at the present. However, most discussed are the questions of using materials with known parameters and building corresponding quantum gates and algorithms. In this paper we discuss opposite problem of finding Chern–Simons level k in the unknown material. For this purpose, we use the previously derived braiding rules for Chern–Simons
SU(2)k S U ( 2 ) k anyons. Using certain operations (turnarounds) on three anyons, one can measure probabilities of annihilation of pairs of anyons, which depend on the parameter of the theory. Therefore, Chern–Simons level k can be found from such an experiment. It is implied that anyons additionally possess certain properties which are required for topological quantum computations.
Topological quantum computation may provide a robust approach for encoding and manipulating information utilizing the topological properties of anyonic quasiparticle excitations. We develop an efficient means to map between dense and sparse representations of quantum information (qubits) and a simple construction of multiqubit gates, for all anyon models from Chern-Simons-Witten SU(2)
k theory that support universal quantum computation by braiding ($k\ensuremath{\geqslant}3,\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}k\ensuremath{\ne}4$). In the process, we show how the constructions of topological quantum memory and gates for
k=2,4 connect naturally to those for $k\ensuremath{\geqslant}3,\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}k\ensuremath{\ne}4$, unifying these concepts in a simple framework. Furthermore, we illustrate potential extensions of these ideas to other anyon models outside of Chern-Simons-Witten field theory.
Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are canonically described by the Ising topological quantum field theory (TQFT), equivalent to SU(2)2 Chern-Simons theory. We investigate whether the braid-group representation governing MZMs could instead arise as the non-Abelian sector of an SO(3)2 Chern-Simons theory (equivalent to SU(2)4), and whether four-point interferometry can experimentally distinguish these topological orders. The non-Abelian sector of SO(3)2 yields a braid-group representation locally indistinguishable from Ising anyons for two-quasiparticle braiding, but differs fundamentally in its fusion rules. Specifically, the SO(3)2 non-Abelian anyon
v (spin-1) obeys
v×v=1+v+ψ, whereas the Ising
σ anyon obeys
σ×σ=1+ψ. We compute the four-point braiding matrices and evaluate the interferometric visibility for a Fabry-Pérot interferometer enclosing four anyons. The presence of the
v×v→v fusion channel introduces an additional interference path with a distinct conformal weight, providing a falsifiable signature distinguishing SO(3)2 from Ising. ## 1. Introduction Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are localized zero-energy excitations in topological superconductors that exhibit non-Abelian statistics. Canonically, MZMs are described by the Ising topological quantum field theory (TQFT), a framework describing topological phases of matter, which corresponds to the SU(2)2 Chern-Simons gauge theory. Chern-Simons theory is a topological gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions whose quantization yields anyonic quasiparticles. We investigate whether the braid-group representation governing MZMs could instead arise as the non-Abelian sector of an SO(3)2 Chern-Simons theory. We demonstrate that while two-quasiparticle braiding is locally indistinguishable from Ising anyons, the theories differ fundamentally in their fusion rules. We propose that four-point interferometry can experimentally distinguish these two topological orders by det