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Microscopic Description of 2D Topological Phases, Duality, and 3D State Sums

Zoltán Kádár, Annalisa Marzuoli, Mario Rasetti

Published Aug 4, 2013• 34 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Doubled topological phases introduced by Kitaev, Levin, and Wen supported on two-dimensional lattices are Hamiltonian versions of three-dimensional topological quantum field theories described by the Turaev-Viro state sum models. We introduce the latter with an emphasis on obtaining them from theories in the continuum. Equivalence of the previous models in the ground state is shown in case of the honeycomb lattice and the gauge group being a finite group by means of the well-known duality transformation between the group algebra and the spin network basis of lattice gauge theory. An analysis of the ribbon operators describing excitations in both types of models and the three-dimensional geometrical interpretation are given.

Related papers

Microscopic Description of 2D Topological Phases, Duality, and 3D State Sums

Zoltán Kádár, Annalisa Marzuoli, Mario Rasetti

Doubled topological phases introduced by Kitaev, Levin, and Wen supported on two‐dimensional lattices are Hamiltonian versions of three‐dimensional topological quantum field theories described by the Turaev‐Viro state sum models. We introduce the latter with an emphasis on obtaining them from theories in the continuum. Equivalence of the previous models in the ground state is shown in case of the honeycomb lattice and the gauge group being a finite group by means of the well‐known duality transformation between the group algebra and the spin network basis of lattice gauge theory. An analysis of the ribbon operators describing excitations in both types of models and the three‐dimensional geometrical interpretation are given.

arXiv:0907.3724•Advances in Mathematical Physics•Jan 1, 2010•30 citations

Twisted quantum double model of topological phases in two dimensions

Yuting Hu, Yidun Wan, Yong-Shi Wu

We propose a discrete model---the twisted quantum double model---of 2D topological phases based on a finite group $G$ and a 3-cocycle $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ over $G$. The detailed properties of the ground states are studied, and we find that the ground-state subspace can be characterized in terms of the twisted quantum double ${D}^{\ensuremath{\alpha}}(G)$ of $G$. When $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is the trivial 3-cocycle, the model becomes Kitaev's quantum double model based on the finite group $G$, in which the elementary excitations are known to be classified by the quantum double $D(G)$ of $G$. Our model can be viewed as a Hamiltonian extension of the Dijkgraaf-Witten topological gauge theories to the discrete graph case with gauge group being a finite group. We also demonstrate a duality between a large class of Levin-Wen string-net models and certain twisted quantum double models, by mapping the string-net $6j$ symbols to the corresponding 3-cocycles.

arXiv:1211.3695•Physical Review B•Mar 11, 2013•213 citations

Gauge Models of Topological Phases and Applications to Quantum Gravity

Clement Delcamp

In 2+1 dimensions, gravity is an SU(2) topological gauge theory that can be written as BF theory. In the condensed matter literature, the Hamiltonian realization of BF theory for finite groups is known as the Kitaev model. The corresponding Hamiltonian yields magnetic and electric point-like excitations, both supported by punctures. In this context, the cylinder plays a special role since the gluing of two cylinders results in another cylinder, hence defining an algebra on the Hilbert space of states, referred to as Ocneanu's tube algebra. By choosing specific graph-states on the cylinder, we can confirm explicitly that this algebra is equivalent to the Drinfel'd double of the gauge group. The representation theory of the Drinfel'd double can then be used to define a basis of excited states associated with any punctured Riemann surface. This result can be adapted so as to define a new basis for the gauge invariant Hilbert space of lattice gauge theories, and a fortiori loop quantum gravity, replacing the well-known spin network basis. In doing so, we naturally shift the focus from the underlying lattice to the excitations themselves, this notion of excitations being understood with respect to a given vacuum state, namely the so-called BF vacuum. This basis diagonalizes so-called ribbon operators that provide Dirac observables. Furthermore, it has an inherent hierarchical organization allowing to design states with a multi-scale structure. This turns out to be extremely precious for studying the large scale structure of the theory. It also provides a new notion of subsystems for gauge theories. Being solely based on excitations, this leads to a completely relational way of defining regions. This can be used to define a new notion of entanglement entropy for lattice gauge theories and (2+1)d gravity coupled to point particles. These techniques can also be generalized so as to define excitation bases for (3+1)d gauge models of topological phases. Two approaches are considered in this thesis. The first one consists in generalizing Ocneanu's tube algebra by replacing the cylinder with the manifold obtained by cutting open a three-torus along one direction. This defines an algebraic structure extending the Drinfel'd double that can be used in a similar fashion as in (2+1)d. The other approach relies on Heegaard splittings of three-manifolds which perform a decomposition into handle-bodies along so-called Heegaard surfaces. We use this technique to encode the Hilbert space of flat connections with curvature excitations of a three-manifold into the Hilbert space of flat connections on a 2d Heegaard surface, hence making the results derived in (2+1)d available to the study of the (3+1)d case.

•Jun 26, 2018•0 citations

Excitations in the higher-lattice gauge theory model for topological phases. II. The (2+1) -dimensional case

Joe Huxford, Steven H. Simon

In this work, the second paper of this series, we study the $(2+1)$-dimensional version of a Hamiltonian model for topological phases based on higher-lattice gauge theory. We construct the ribbon operators that produce the pointlike excitations. These ribbon operators are used to find the braiding properties and topological charge carried by the pointlike excitations. The model also hosts looplike excitations, which are produced by membrane operators. By considering a change of basis, we show that, in certain cases, some looplike excitations represent domain walls between patches corresponding to different symmetry-related ground states, and we find this symmetry. We also map the higher-lattice gauge theory Hamiltonian to the symmetry-enriched string-net model for symmetry-enriched topological phases described by Heinrich, Burnell, Fidkowski, and Levin [Phys. Rev. B 94, 235136 (2016)], again in a subset of cases.

arXiv:2204.05341•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Dec 12, 2023•4 citations

Further Explorations of the Parameter Space of 3D Lattice Gauge Theories

Miguel Jorge Bernabé Ferreira, Paulo Teotonio-Sobrinho

State sum models can be used to construct the partition functions of 3D lattice gauge theories based on involutory Hopf algebras, A, of which the group algebras, CG, are a particular case. Transfer matrices can be obtained from such partition functions by carrying out the state sum construction on a manifold with boundary. The parameter space of these transfer contains various Hamiltonians of physical interest. The 2D quantum double Hamitlonians of Kitaev can be obtained from such transfer matrices for specific values of these parameters. A initial study of such models has been carried out in [12]. In this paper we study other regions of this parameter space to obtain some new and known models. The new model comprise of Hamiltonians which “partially” confine the excitations of the quantum double Hamiltonians which are usually deconfined. The state sum construction is not invariant by translations and thus it is natural to expect to obtain disordered Hamiltonians from the transfer matrices resulting from these constructions. Thus one set of known models consist of the disordered quantum double Hamiltonians. Finally we obtain quantum double Hamiltonians perturbed by magnetic fields which have been considered earlier in the literature to study the stability of topological order to perturbations.

•Apr 22, 2015•0 citations

Topological order in three-dimensional systems and 2-gauge symmetry

Ricardo Costa de Almeida

Topological order is a new paradigm for quantum phases of matter developed to explain phase transitions which do not fit the symmetry breaking scheme for classifying phases of matter. They are characterized by patterns of entanglement that lead to topologically depended ground state degeneracy and anyonic excitations. One common approach for studying such phases in two-dimensional systems is through exactly solvable lattice Hamiltonian models such as quantum double models and String-Net models. The former can be understood as the Hamiltonian formulation of lattice gauge theories and, as such, it is defined by a finite gauge group. However, not much is known about topological phases in tridimensional systems. Motivated by this we develop a new class of three-dimensional exactly solvable models which go beyond quantum double models by using finite crossed modules instead of gauge groups. This approach relies on a lattice implementation of 2-gauge theory to obtain models with a richer topological structure. We construct the Hamiltonian model explicitly and provide a rigorous proof that the ground state degeneracy is a topological invariant and that the ground states can only be characterized with nonlocal order parameters.

•Dec 5, 2017•1 citation
Doubled topological phases introduced by Kitaev, Levin, and Wen supported on two-dimensional lattices are Hamiltonian versions of three-dimensional topological quantum field theories described by the Turaev-Viro state sum models. We introduce the latter with an emphasis on obtaining them from theories in the continuum. Equivalence of the previous models in the ground state is shown in case of the honeycomb lattice and the gauge group being a finite group by means of the well-known duality transformation between the group algebra and the spin network basis of lattice gauge theory. An analysis of the ribbon operators describing excitations in both types of models and the three-dimensional geometrical interpretation are given.
Doubled topological phases introduced by Kitaev, Levin, and Wen supported on two‐dimensional lattices are Hamiltonian versions of three‐dimensional topological quantum field theories described by the Turaev‐Viro state sum models. We introduce the latter with an emphasis on obtaining them from theories in the continuum. Equivalence of the previous models in the ground state is shown in case of the honeycomb lattice and the gauge group being a finite group by means of the well‐known duality transformation between the group algebra and the spin network basis of lattice gauge theory. An analysis of the ribbon operators describing excitations in both types of models and the three‐dimensional geometrical interpretation are given.
We propose a discrete model---the twisted quantum double model---of 2D topological phases based on a finite group GGG and a 3-cocycle $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ over GGG. The detailed properties of the ground states are studied, and we find that the ground-state subspace can be characterized in terms of the twisted quantum double ${D}^{\ensuremath{\alpha}}(G)$ of GGG. When $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is the trivial 3-cocycle, the model becomes Kitaev's quantum double model based on the finite group GGG, in which the elementary excitations are known to be classified by the quantum double D(G)D(G)D(G) of GGG. Our model can be viewed as a Hamiltonian extension of the Dijkgraaf-Witten topological gauge theories to the discrete graph case with gauge group being a finite group. We also demonstrate a duality between a large class of Levin-Wen string-net models and certain twisted quantum double models, by mapping the string-net 6j6j6j symbols to the corresponding 3-cocycles.
In 2+1 dimensions, gravity is an SU(2) topological gauge theory that can be written as BF theory. In the condensed matter literature, the Hamiltonian realization of BF theory for finite groups is known as the Kitaev model. The corresponding Hamiltonian yields magnetic and electric point-like excitations, both supported by punctures. In this context, the cylinder plays a special role since the gluing of two cylinders results in another cylinder, hence defining an algebra on the Hilbert space of states, referred to as Ocneanu's tube algebra. By choosing specific graph-states on the cylinder, we can confirm explicitly that this algebra is equivalent to the Drinfel'd double of the gauge group. The representation theory of the Drinfel'd double can then be used to define a basis of excited states associated with any punctured Riemann surface. This result can be adapted so as to define a new basis for the gauge invariant Hilbert space of lattice gauge theories, and a fortiori loop quantum gravity, replacing the well-known spin network basis. In doing so, we naturally shift the focus from the underlying lattice to the excitations themselves, this notion of excitations being understood with respect to a given vacuum state, namely the so-called BF vacuum. This basis diagonalizes so-called ribbon operators that provide Dirac observables. Furthermore, it has an inherent hierarchical organization allowing to design states with a multi-scale structure. This turns out to be extremely precious for studying the large scale structure of the theory. It also provides a new notion of subsystems for gauge theories. Being solely based on excitations, this leads to a completely relational way of defining regions. This can be used to define a new notion of entanglement entropy for lattice gauge theories and (2+1)d gravity coupled to point particles. These techniques can also be generalized so as to define excitation bases for (3+1)d gauge models of topological phases. Two approaches are considered in this thesis. The first one consists in generalizing Ocneanu's tube algebra by replacing the cylinder with the manifold obtained by cutting open a three-torus along one direction. This defines an algebraic structure extending the Drinfel'd double that can be used in a similar fashion as in (2+1)d. The other approach relies on Heegaard splittings of three-manifolds which perform a decomposition into handle-bodies along so-called Heegaard surfaces. We use this technique to encode the Hilbert space of flat connections with curvature excitations of a three-manifold into the Hilbert space of flat connections on a 2d Heegaard surface, hence making the results derived in (2+1)d available to the study of the (3+1)d case.
In this work, the second paper of this series, we study the (2+1)(2+1)(2+1)-dimensional version of a Hamiltonian model for topological phases based on higher-lattice gauge theory. We construct the ribbon operators that produce the pointlike excitations. These ribbon operators are used to find the braiding properties and topological charge carried by the pointlike excitations. The model also hosts looplike excitations, which are produced by membrane operators. By considering a change of basis, we show that, in certain cases, some looplike excitations represent domain walls between patches corresponding to different symmetry-related ground states, and we find this symmetry. We also map the higher-lattice gauge theory Hamiltonian to the symmetry-enriched string-net model for symmetry-enriched topological phases described by Heinrich, Burnell, Fidkowski, and Levin [Phys. Rev. B 94, 235136 (2016)], again in a subset of cases.
State sum models can be used to construct the partition functions of 3D lattice gauge theories based on involutory Hopf algebras, A, of which the group algebras, CG, are a particular case. Transfer matrices can be obtained from such partition functions by carrying out the state sum construction on a manifold with boundary. The parameter space of these transfer contains various Hamiltonians of physical interest. The 2D quantum double Hamitlonians of Kitaev can be obtained from such transfer matrices for specific values of these parameters. A initial study of such models has been carried out in [12]. In this paper we study other regions of this parameter space to obtain some new and known models. The new model comprise of Hamiltonians which “partially” confine the excitations of the quantum double Hamiltonians which are usually deconfined. The state sum construction is not invariant by translations and thus it is natural to expect to obtain disordered Hamiltonians from the transfer matrices resulting from these constructions. Thus one set of known models consist of the disordered quantum double Hamiltonians. Finally we obtain quantum double Hamiltonians perturbed by magnetic fields which have been considered earlier in the literature to study the stability of topological order to perturbations.
Topological order is a new paradigm for quantum phases of matter developed to explain phase transitions which do not fit the symmetry breaking scheme for classifying phases of matter. They are characterized by patterns of entanglement that lead to topologically depended ground state degeneracy and anyonic excitations. One common approach for studying such phases in two-dimensional systems is through exactly solvable lattice Hamiltonian models such as quantum double models and String-Net models. The former can be understood as the Hamiltonian formulation of lattice gauge theories and, as such, it is defined by a finite gauge group. However, not much is known about topological phases in tridimensional systems. Motivated by this we develop a new class of three-dimensional exactly solvable models which go beyond quantum double models by using finite crossed modules instead of gauge groups. This approach relies on a lattice implementation of 2-gauge theory to obtain models with a richer topological structure. We construct the Hamiltonian model explicitly and provide a rigorous proof that the ground state degeneracy is a topological invariant and that the ground states can only be characterized with nonlocal order parameters.