Search arXivSearch

arXiv · math-ph/0506035

Knots, Braids and Hedgehogs from the Eikonal Equation

Abstract

The complex eikonal equation in the three space dimensions is considered. We show that apart from the recently found torus knots this equation can also generate other topological configurations with a non-trivial value of the $π_2(S^2)$ index: braided open strings as well as hedgehogs. In particular, cylindric strings i.e. string solutions located on a cylinder with a constant radius are found. Moreover, solutions describing strings lying on an arbitrary surface topologically equivalent to cylinder are presented. We discus them in the context of the eikonal knots. The physical importance of the results originates in the fact that the eikonal knots have been recently used to approximate the Faddeev-Niemi hopfions.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

A. Wereszczynski. 2005-06-14. Knots, Braids and Hedgehogs from the Eikonal Equation. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217732305017330

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

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Topological Orders from Reflection Positive Frustration-free Hamiltonians

We establish a framework based on reflection positivity for analyzing topologically ordered quantum spin systems and reconstructing their boundary algebras. For any reflection positive frustration-free Hamiltonian, we prove that the local topological quantum order (LTQO) condition of ground states on a disk holds, if and only if the ground state on the sphere obtained by gluing the disk with its reflection is nondegenerate. Furthermore, we show that Osterwalder-Schrader reconstruction produces the local net of boundary operator algebras from the local ground states, offering a constructive approach to topological holography through spatial reflection positivity.

math-ph

Generalised Langevin Dynamics: Significance and Limitations of the Projection Operator Formalism

We discuss some mathematical aspects of the Mori-Zwanzig projection operator formalism. The core of the Mori-Zwanzig formalism is the generalised Langevin equation, which is typically derived from the Dyson-Duhamel identity. We recall the derivation of the projection operator formalism for Mori's projection by means of semigroup theory, and we discuss where rigorous methods fail for the case of Zwanzig's projection. For bounded perturbations of the time-evolution operator (e.g. for Mori's projection), the Dyson-Duhamel identity coincides with the variation of constants formula. For unbounded perturbations (e.g. for Zwanzigs's projection), the Dyson-Duhamel identity should be considered an equation for the orthogonal dynamics, for which the existence of unique solutions has yet to be established. Then we recall that all properties of Mori's generalised Langevin equation follow directly from the well-posedness of Volterra equations, irrespective of the projection operator formalism. Further, we discuss the use of Mori's generalised Langevin equation as a coarse-grained model. Finally, we illustrate that the memory term is a coupling term that is not necessarily related to memory. To this end, we introduce projections onto subspaces of 'fast' and 'slow' variables that are associated with the spectral decomposition of skew-adjoint operators. For these projections, the memory term vanishes.

math-ph

Universal fusion category symmetries on tensor products of infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces

We show that anyon chains, after stabilizing with infinite-dimensional ancilla spaces, factorize locally as tensor products of infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. This implies that any unitary fusion category can be realized as symmetries on a tensor product of infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. We then show that any two anyon chains with the same symmetry category are related by a symmetry-compatible locality-preserving unitary after stabilizing with infinite-dimensional ancilla, showing that for a fixed fusion category, there is a single stable equivalence class of symmetry realizations on the lattice via anyon chains. As a corollary of our proof, we show that the physical boundary algebras of Levin-Wen type models are bounded spread isomorphic after stabilization if and only if they have the same bulk topological order.

math-ph