Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 1510.03475

On Gauging Symmetry of Modular Categories

Abstract

Topological order of a topological phase of matter in two spacial dimensions is encoded by a unitary modular (tensor) category (UMC). A group symmetry of the topological phase induces a group symmetry of its corresponding UMC. Gauging is a well-known theoretical tool to promote a global symmetry to a local gauge symmetry. We give a mathematical formulation of gauging in terms of higher category formalism. Roughly, given a UMC with a symmetry group $G$, gauging is a 2-step process: first extend the UMC to a $G$-crossed braided fusion category and then take the equivariantization of the resulting category. Gauging can tell whether or not two enriched topological phases of matter are different, and also provides a way to construct new UMCs out of old ones. We derive a formula for the $H^4$-obstruction, prove some properties of gauging, and carry out gauging for two concrete examples.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Shawn X. Cui, César Galindo, Julia Yael Plavnik, Zhenghan Wang. 2016-02-23. On Gauging Symmetry of Modular Categories. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00220-016-2633-8

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Graded Necklace Lie Bialgebras and Batalin-Vilkovisky Formalism

An involutive Lie bialgebra induces a Batalin-Vilkovisky operator on its exterior algebra. We introduce a graded generalization of the necklace Lie bialgebra, which depends on a choice of a quiver $Q$. We relate the resulting Batalin-Vilkovisky structure to the Batalin-Vilkovisky structure coming from a degree $-1$ symplectic form on a suitably defined representation variety of the quiver $Q$. The morphism intertwining these Batalin-Vilkovisky algebras will be given by a twisted trace, recovering the usual (super)trace and the odd trace.

math.QA

Freeness and divisibility for right $H$-simple left $H$-comodule algebras over a pointed Hopf algebra $H$

Let $H$ be a pointed Hopf algebra and let $A$ be a right $H$-simple left $H$-comodule algebra. We show that every relative $(H,A)$-Hopf module is free as an $A$-module and that this freeness characterizes the class of pointed Hopf algebras. We give a criterion for the category of relative $(H,A)$-Hopf modules to be semisimple. We also show that $A$ can be embedded into a left $H$-comodule algebra of a specific form when $H$ and $A$ are $\mathbb{N}_0$-graded. As a consequence, we prove that if $H$ is finite-dimensional and $A^{\mathrm{co} H}=\Bbbk$, then $A$ is finite-dimensional and $\dim A$ divides $\dim H$.

math.QA

$C_2$-Cofiniteness and Rationality of the Icosahedral Orbifold $V_{L_2}^{A_5}$

Let $L_2=\mathbb{Z}α$ be the rank-one root lattice with $(α,α)=2$, and let $A_5$ act on the lattice vertex operator algebra $V_{L_2}$ through an icosahedral subgroup of $\operatorname{Aut}(V_{L_2})\cong PSL_2(\mathbb{C})$. We prove that the fixed-point vertex operator algebra $V_{L_2}^{A_5}$ is strongly rational.

math.QA