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arXiv:2608.05071

Generalized comodule tube algebras for boundary and domain wall defects of (2+1)D topological order

Zhian Jia, Sheng Tan

Published Aug 5, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The tube algebra, which carries the structure of a $C^*$ weak Hopf algebra, is a fundamental tool for characterizing topological excitations in topological phases. In this work, we generalize the tube algebra framework to codimension-2 defects in $(2+1)$D gapped phases described by Turaev--Viro--Barrett--Westbury TQFTs, with particular emphasis on Levin--Wen string-net models. We show that such codimension-2 defects are described by a \emph{defect tube algebra}, which naturally carries the structure of a comodule algebra over the weak Hopf tube algebra associated with the topological excitations. Boundary and domain wall defects are then characterized by the representations of the corresponding boundary and domain wall defect tube algebras. In particular, a domain wall defect tube algebra can be regarded as a generalized Drinfeld double of the tube algebras associated with the two adjacent boundary defects. More generally, for a domain wall joining $N$ bulk phases, the associated domain wall defect tube algebra can be viewed as an $N$-tuple algebra. This perspective extends naturally to general $k$-defects, namely codimension-2 defects joining $k$ codimension-1 defects, for which the resulting generalized tube algebra carries the structure of a multicomodule algebra.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2608.05071

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The tube algebra, which carries the structure of a C∗C^*C∗ weak Hopf algebra, is a fundamental tool for characterizing topological excitations in topological phases. In this work, we generalize the tube algebra framework to codimension-2 defects in (2+1)(2+1)(2+1)D gapped phases described by Turaev--Viro--Barrett--Westbury TQFTs, with particular emphasis on Levin--Wen string-net models. We show that such codimension-2 defects are described by a \emph{defect tube algebra}, which naturally carries the structure of a comodule algebra over the weak Hopf tube algebra associated with the topological excitations. Boundary and domain wall defects are then characterized by the representations of the corresponding boundary and domain wall defect tube algebras. In particular, a domain wall defect tube algebra can be regarded as a generalized Drinfeld double of the tube algebras associated with the two adjacent boundary defects. More generally, for a domain wall joining NNN bulk phases, the associated domain wall defect tube algebra can be viewed as an NNN-tuple algebra. This perspective extends naturally to general kkk-defects, namely codimension-2 defects joining kkk codimension-1 defects, for which the resulting generalized tube algebra carries the structure of a multicomodule algebra.
A bstract We investigate domain walls between 2 d gapped phases of Turaev-Viro type topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) by constructing domain wall tube algebras. We begin by analyzing the domain wall tube algebra associated with bimodule categories, and then extend the construction to multimodule categories over N base fusion categories. We prove that the resulting tube algebra is naturally equipped with a C ∗ weak Hopf algebra structure. We show that topological excitations localized on domain walls are classified by representations of the corresponding domain wall tube algebra, in the sense that the functor category of bimodules admits a fusion-preserving embedding into the representation category of the domain wall tube algebra. We further establish the folding trick and Morita theory in this context. Then, most crucially, we provide a rigorous construction of the Drinfeld quantum double from weak Hopf boundary tube algebras using a skew-pairing, and establish an isomorphism between domain wall tube algebra and Drinfeld quantum double of boundary tube algebras. Motivated by the correspondence between the domain wall tube algebra and the quantum double of the boundary tube algebras, we introduce the notion of an N -tuple algebra and demonstrate how it arises in the multimodule domain wall setting. Finally, we consider defects between two domain walls, showing that such defects can be characterized by representations of a domain wall defect tube algebra. We briefly outline how these defects can be systematically treated within this representation-theoretic framework.
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A bstract We investigate the multifusion generalization of string-net ground states and lattice Hamiltonians, delving into their associated weak Hopf symmetries. For the multifusion string-net, the gauge symmetry manifests as a general weak Hopf algebra, leading to a reducible vacuum string label; the charge symmetry, serving as a quantum double of gauge symmetry, constitutes a connected weak Hopf algebra. This implies that the associated topological phase retains its characterization by a unitary modular tensor category (UMTC). The bulk charge symmetry can also be captured by a weak Hopf tube algebra. We offer an explicit construction of the weak Hopf tube algebra structure and thoroughly discuss its properties. The gapped boundary and domain wall models are extensively discussed, with these 1 d phases characterized by unitary multifusion categories (UMFCs). We delve into the gauge and charge symmetries of these 1 d phases, as well as the construction of the boundary and domain wall tube algebras. Additionally, we illustrate that the domain wall tube algebra can be regarded as a cross product of two boundary tube algebras. As an application of our model, we elucidate how to interpret the defective string-net as a restricted multifusion string-net.
We define a class of lattice models for two-dimensional topological phases with boundary such that both the bulk and the boundary excitations are gapped. The bulk part is constructed using a unitary tensor category $\calC$ as in the Levin-Wen model, whereas the boundary is associated with a module category over $\calC$. We also consider domain walls (or defect lines) between different bulk phases. A domain wall is transparent to bulk excitations if the corresponding unitary tensor categories are Morita equivalent. Defects of higher codimension will also be studied. In summary, we give a dictionary between physical ingredients of lattice models and tensor-categorical notions.
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