Three-dimensional (3D) gapped topological phases with fractional excitations are divided into two subclasses: one has topological order with point-like and loop-like excitations fully mobile in the 3D space, and the other has fracton order with point-like excitations constrained in lower-dimensional subspaces. These exotic phases are often studied by exactly solvable Hamiltonians made of commuting projectors, which, however, are not capable of describing those exhibiting surface states with gapless chiral dispersion. Here we introduce a systematic way, based on cellular construction recently proposed for 3D topological phases, to construct another type of exactly solvable models in terms of coupled quantum wires with given inputs of cellular structure, two-dimensional Abelian topological order, and their gapped interfaces. We show that our models can describe both 3D topological and fracton orders (and even their hybrid) and study their universal properties such as quasiparticle statistics and topological ground-state degeneracy. We also apply this construction to two-dimensional coupled-wire models with ordinary topological orders and translation-symmetry-enriched topological orders. Our results pave the way for effective quantum field theory descriptions or microscopic model realizations of fracton orders with chiral gapless surface states.Three-dimensional (3D) gapped topological phases with fractional excitations are divided into two subclasses: one has topological order with point-like and loop-like excitations fully mobile in the 3D space, and the other has fracton order with point-like excitations constrained in lower-dimensional subspaces. These exotic phases are often studied by exactly solvable Hamiltonians made of commuting projectors, which, however, are not capable of describing those exhibiting surface states with gapless chiral dispersion. Here we introduce a systematic way, based on cellular construction recently proposed for 3D topological phases, to construct another type of exactly solvable models in terms of coupled quantum wires with given inputs of cellular structure, two-dimensional Abelian topological order, and their gapped interfaces. We show that our models can describe both 3D topological and fracton orders (and even their hybrid) and study their universal properties such as quasiparticle statistics and topological ground-state degeneracy. We also apply this construction to two-dimensional coupled-wire models with ordinary topological orders and translation-symmetry-enriched topological orders. Our results pave the way for effective quantum field theory descriptions or microscopic model realizations of fracton orders with chiral gapless surface states.

arXiv:2112.07926Physical Review ResearchNov 3, 20233 citations

Coupled-wire description of surface ADE topological order

Bo Han, Jeffrey C. Y. Teo

Symmetry-protected and symmetry-enriched topological (SPT/SET) phases in three dimensions are quantum systems that support nontrivial two-dimensional (2D) surface states. These surface states develop finite excitation energy gaps when the relevant symmetries are broken. On the other hand, one-dimensional (1D) gapless modes can populate along interfaces that separate adjacent gapped surface domains with distinct symmetry-breaking orders. A surface strip pattern in general reduces the low-energy SPT/SET surface degrees of freedom onto a 2D array of gapless 1D channels. These channels can be coupled to one another by quasiparticle tunneling, and these interwire interactions collectively provide an effective description of the surface state. In this paper, we study a general class of symmetry-preserving or -breaking SPT/SET surface states that admit finite excitation energy gaps and Abelian topological orders via the coupled-wire construction. In particular, we focus on the prototype Abelian surface topological orders that fall under the $ADE$ classification of simply laced Lie algebras. We also elaborate on the emergent symmetry and duality properties of the coupled-wire models.Symmetry-protected and symmetry-enriched topological (SPT/SET) phases in three dimensions are quantum systems that support nontrivial two-dimensional (2D) surface states. These surface states develop finite excitation energy gaps when the relevant symmetries are broken. On the other hand, one-dimensional (1D) gapless modes can populate along interfaces that separate adjacent gapped surface domains with distinct symmetry-breaking orders. A surface strip pattern in general reduces the low-energy SPT/SET surface degrees of freedom onto a 2D array of gapless 1D channels. These channels can be coupled to one another by quasiparticle tunneling, and these interwire interactions collectively provide an effective description of the surface state. In this paper, we study a general class of symmetry-preserving or -breaking SPT/SET surface states that admit finite excitation energy gaps and Abelian topological orders via the coupled-wire construction. In particular, we focus on the prototype Abelian surface topological orders that fall under the $ADE$ classification of simply laced Lie algebras. We also elaborate on the emergent symmetry and duality properties of the coupled-wire models.

arXiv:1807.10355Physical review. B./Physical review. BJun 3, 20195 citations

Higher-Order Symmetry Enriched Topological Phases

Ciarán Hickey, Vatsal Dwivedi, Tim Eschmann +1 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 4, 20190 citations

ADE

classification of simply laced Lie algebras. We also elaborate on the emergent symmetry and duality properties of the coupled-wire models.