CMSA Condensed Matter/Math Seminar: Foliated QFT and Topological Defect Networks of Fracton Order

CMSA EVENTS

Speaker:

Kevin Slagle - Caltech

I will describe two new descriptions of gapped fracton topological order. These descriptions are generic and make minimal modifications to ordinary TQFT in order to obtain fracton physics. The first description constructs a fracton order by embedding a network of topological defects (aka interfaces) within an ordinary topological order, which results in the restricted fracton mobility. The second description takes the continuum limit by viewing the defect layers as infinitesimally separated. This is done by coupling a TQFT, such as BF theory, to a new kind of foliated gauge field. The first description is based on arXiv:2002.05166, while the second is based on a forthcoming work.

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