CMSA Condensed Matter/Math Seminar: Topological qauntum field theory in 3+1D and a potential origin of dark matter

CMSA EVENTS

Speaker:

Zheng-Cheng Gu - CUHK

Topological qauntum field theory(TQFT) is a very powerful theoretical tool to study topological phases and phase transitions. In 2 + 1D, it is well known that the Chern-Simons theory captures all the universal topological data of topological phases, e.g., quasi-particle braiding statistics, chiral central charge and even provides us a deep insight for the nature of topological phase transitions. Recently, topological phases of quantum matter are also intensively studied in 3 + 1D and it has been shown that loop like excitation obeys the so-called three-loop-braiding statistics. In this talk, I will discuss a TQFT framework to understand the quantum statistics of loop like excitation in 3 + 1D. Most surprisingly, this new class of 3+1D TQFT even provides us a new route towards understanding quantum gravity. I will also discuss a generalized Einstein equation which might naturally include dark matter sector.

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Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/977347126