Higher symmetries are newsworthy!
https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-kind-of-symmetry-shakes-up-physics-20230418/
Higher symmetries are newsworthy!
https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-kind-of-symmetry-shakes-up-physics-20230418/
SwissMAP research station, Les Diableret, Switzerland, Aug 28 – Sept 8, 2023
This will be a hybrid mode event: most speakers will be in-person, with some virtual speakers; about half of the participants will be in-person, and talks will also be live-streamed on Zoom. Videos will be archived on a youtube channel.
Further details will appear on the conference webpage and on the SwissMAP website.
Immediately preceeding GCS2023 there are two distinct events, a Nordita Program (August 14-25) and a conference in Regensburg (August 14-18). Although these events are logically separate, with different organizing teams and registrations, we purposefully scheduled these events close to each other to avoid too many transatlantic flights.
Speakers:
Anton Kapustin
Catherine Meusburger
Chelsea Walton
Christoph Schweigert
David Ayala
David Tong*
Kenneth Intriligator
Mathew Bullimore
Mayuko Yamashita
Owen Gwilliam
Peter Teichner
Ryan Thorngren
Sakura Schafer-Nameki
Zohar Komargodski*
(*to be confirmed)
Lectures:
Constantin Teleman – The Mathematics of TQFTs and Defects
David Jordan – Applied Cobordism Hypothesis
Michele Del Zotto – Symmetry Categories 101
Shu-Heng Shao – Non-invertible Symmetries
August 14 – August 25, 2023, NORDITA, Stockholm (Sweden)
Organizers: Michele Del Zotto, Ken Intriligator, Muyang Liu, Nicolai Reshetikhin
The program consists of a workshop (August 14-21) and a conference (August 22-25).
More informations can be found on the official webpage for the event.
Participants include:
Apoorv Tiwari
Chi Ming Chang
Christian Copetti
Constantin Teleman
Federico Bonetti
Francesco Benini
Iñaki Garcia Etxebarria
Jonathan Heckman
Jürgen Fuchs
Lakshya Bhardwaj
Nils Carqueville
Pavel Putrov
Po-Shen Hsin
Ruben Minasian
Sakura Schäfer Nameki (*)
Sergei Gukov
Si Li
Theodore Daniel Brennan
Tudor Dimofte
Xiao-Gang Wen (*)
Yunqin Zheng
Yuya Tanizaki
Wenjie ji
(*) online only
Meeting monthly
An occasion to discuss and share insights for students and postdocs
https://sites.google.com/perimeterinstitute.ca/gcs-colloquium/home
The TASI school is a traditional school dedicated to US graduate students in theoretical physics. In 2023 the school has been co-organized by some of our collaboration members: Ibrahima Bah and Ken Intriligator, together with Shu-Heng Shao (Stony Brook) and Oliver DeWolfe (local organizer).
The TASI school features several beautiful lectures about some of the topics of interest for our collaboration (and beyond!) by many internationally renewed experts (including also some of our PIs).
YouTube Video Recordings are available. More details about the school can be found on the event’s website.
Bashmakov, Del Zotto, Hasan, https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.07073
Del Zotto, García Etxebarria, https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.06495
Simons Foundation, November 17-18, 2022
Ingrid Daubechies Auditorium
162 Fifth Avenue, Flatiron Institute
New York, NY
Thurs.: 8:30 AM—5 PM
Fri.: 8:30 AM—2 PM
Plavnik, Schopieray, Yu, Zhang, https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.05228
The GCS2022 School is the second week of the program Global Categorical Symmetries 2022, held at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics June 6-17. Videos are available at https://pirsa.org/C22008.
Problem sessions will be TAed by Arun Debray and Ho Tat Lam.
9:30-10:30: Ohmori, Introduction to symmetries in quantum field theory
11:30-12:30: Freed, Finite symmetries in QFT
14:00-15:00: Cordova, Introduction to anomalies in quantum field theory
16:00-17:00: Hopkins, Lattice systems and topological field theories
9:00-10:00: Freed, Finite symmetries in QFT
11:00-12:00: Ohmori, Introduction to symmetries in quantum field theory
13:30-14:30: Cordova, Introduction to anomalies in quantum field theory
15:00-17:00: Problem session / open discussion
17:00-19:00: BBQ
9:00-10:00: Hopkins, Lattice systems and topological field theories
11:00-12:00: Freed, Finite symmetries in QFT
13:30-14:30: Ohmori, Introduction to symmetries in quantum field theory
15:00-17:00: Problem session / open discussion
9:00-10:00: Cordova, Introduction to anomalies in quantum field theory
11:00-12:00: Ohmori, Introduction to symmetries in quantum field theory
13:30-14:30: Hopkins, Lattice systems and topological field theories
15:00-17:00: Problem session / open discussion
9:00-10:00: Freed, Finite symmetries in QFT
11:00-12:00: Hopkins, Lattice systems and topological field theories
13:30-14:30: Cordova, Introduction to anomalies in quantum field theory
15:00-17:00: Problem session / open discussion / goodbye
This is the schedule for the first week of the GCS2022 conference and school. Videos are available at https://pirsa.org/C22008.
(All times are in Eastern Daylight Time}
9:30-9:45: Welcome and opening remarks
9:45-10:45: Justin Kaidi — Non-Invertible Symmetries in d>2
10:45-11:45: Coffee break
11:45-12:45: Andrei Okounkov — Monodromy and derived equivalences
12:45-14:00: Lunch
14:00-15:00: Emily Nardoni — Lessons from SU(N) Seiberg-Witten Geometry
15:00-15:45: Coffee break
15:45-16:45: Kevin Costello — Vertex algebras and self-dual Yang-Mills theory
9:00-10:00: Shu-Heng Shao — Non-invertible Global Symmetries in the Standard Model
10:00-10:45: Coffee break
10:45-11:45: Pavel Etingof — Analytic Langlands correspondence over C and R
11:45-12:00: Short break
12:00-13:00: Colleen Delaney — Hopf algebras play an analogous role in some topological and non-topological QFTs
13:00-14:45: Lunch
14:45-17:00: Gong show
17:00-18:00: Reception
9:00-10:00: Cris Negron — A (kind of) monoidal localization theorem for the small quantum group
10:00-11:00: Coffee break
11:00-12:00: Iñaki García-Etxebarria — Symmetries from string theory
12:00-14:00: Lunch
14:00-15:00: Nathan Seiberg (Colloquium) — Quantum Field Theory, Separation of Scales, and Beyond
15:00-16:00: Coffee break
9:00-10:00: André Henriques — All unitary 2D QFTs share the same state space
10:00-10:45: Coffee break
10:45-11:45: Mina Aganagic — Knot categorification from homological mirror symmetry
11:45-12:00: Short break
12:00-13:00 David Reutter — Higher S-matrices and higher modular categories
13:00-14:45: Lunch
14:45-15:45: Federico Bonetti — ’t Hooft anomalies of QFTs realized in string theory
15:45-16:30: Coffee break
9:00-10:00: Sakura Schäfer-Nameki — Non-Invertible Higher-Categorical Symmetries
10:00-10:45: Coffee break
10:45-11:45: Thomas Dumitrescu — Line Defect Quantum Numbers and Anomalies
11:45-12:00: Short break
12:00-13:00: Tudor Dimofte — TQFT’s and flat connections
13-14:45: Lunch
14:45-16:00: Posters and goodbyes
Khovanov showed in ‘99 that the Jones polynomial arises as the Euler characteristic of a homology theory. The knot categorification problem is to find a general construction of knot homology groups and to explain their meaning: what are they homologies of?
Homological mirror symmetry, formulated by Kontsevich in ’94, naturally produces hosts of homological invariants. Sometimes, it can be made manifest, and then its striking mathematical power comes to fore. Typically though, it leads to invariants which have no particular interest outside of the problem at hand.
I will explain that there is a vast new family of mirror pairs of manifolds for which homological mirror symmetry does lead to interesting invariants, and solves the knot categorification problem.
String theory constructions allow one to realize vast classes of non-trivial quantum field theories (QFTs), including many strongly coupled models that elude a conventional Lagrangian description. ’t Hooft anomalies for global symmetries are robust observables that are particularly well-suited to explore QFTs realized in string theory. In this talk, I will discuss systematic methods to compute anomalies of theories engineered with branes, using as input the geometry and flux configuration transverse to the non-compact directions of the branes worldvolume. Examples from M-theory and Type IIB string theory illustrate the versatility of this approach, which can capture both ordinary and generalized symmetries, continuous or discrete.
I’ll discuss a vertex algebra whose correlators are scattering amplitudes (and form factors) of self-dual Yang-Mills theory, for certain gauge groups and matter. The vertex algebra is a kind of vertex quantum group, and is a cousin of the affine Yangian. This is joint work with Natalie Paquette.
A frequent theme in mathematical approaches to quantum field theory is being able to draw intuitive but rigorous pictures of particle interactions. For example, in theories like QED and QCD, Feynman diagrams can be organized into a Hopf algebra structure in such a way that models renormalization of Feynman integrals. One can draw an analogy with the role of Hopf algebras in (2+1)D topological quantum field theory, where in this second setting one can think of certain string diagrams as Feynman diagrams whose Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev amplitudes are encoded by the representation theory of some (weak) Hopf algebra. This talk is intended to (1) be accessible to both mathematicians and physicians, (2) invite a dialogue about the meaningfulness of this analogy and (3) serve as an aperitif to the later talks.
I will discuss some of the (higher) structure of TQFT’s that can be deformed by flat connections for continuous global symmetries, focusing on examples coming from twists of 3d supersymmetric theories, and the manifestation of this structure in boundary VOA’s.
I will consider four-dimensional gauge theories whose global symmetries admit certain discrete ’t Hooft anomalies that are intimately related to the (fractionalized) global-symmetry quantum numbers of Wilson-’t Hooft line defects in the theory. Determining these quantum numbers is typically straightforward for Wilson lines, but requires a careful analysis of fermion zero modes for ’t Hooft lines, which I will describe for several classes of examples. This in turn leads to a calculation of the anomaly. Along the way I will comment on how this understanding relates to some classic and recent examples in the literature.
I will review the analytic component of the geometric Langlands correspondence, developed recently in my joint work with E. Frenkel and D. Kazhdan (based on previous works by other authors, including A. Braverman, R. Langlands, J. Teschner, M. Kontsevich), with a special focus on archimedian local fields, especially R. This is based on our work with E. Frenkel and D. Kazhdan and insights shared by D. Gaiotto and E. Witten.
It is possible to construct interesting field theories by placing string theory on suitable singular geometries, and adding branes. In the fairly special cases where Lagrangians are known for the resulting theories, field theory arguments often show that these theories have generalised symmetry structures. In this talk I will review recent work developing a dictionary, valid even in the absence of a known Lagrangian description, between properties of the string theory geometry and generalised symmetries of the associated field theories.
A unitary 1d QFT consists of a Hilbert space and a Hamiltonian. A group acting on a 1d QFT is a group acting on the Hilbert space, commuting with the Hamiltonian. Note that the *data* of an action only involves the Hilbert space. The Hamiltonian is only there to provide a constraint. Moreover, all 1d QFT have isomorphic Hilbert spaces (except in special cases, e.g. in the case of a 1d TQFT, when the Hilbert space is finite dimensional).
A unitary 2d QFT consists of the 0-dimensional and 1-dimensional part of the QFT, along with the data of the Stress-energy tensor. An action of a fusion category on a 2d QFT is again something where the *data* only involves the 0-dimensional and 1-dimensional part of the QFT, while the Stress-energy tensor is only there to provide a constraint. The upshot is that it makes sense to act on the 0-dimensional and 1-dimensional part of the QFT. Moreover, I conjecture that all 2d QFTs have isomorphic 0-dimensional + 1-dimensional parts (except in special cases, e.g. in the case of a chiral CFT).
In this talk I will review some recent progress in the study of non-invertible symmetries in dimensions d>2. After introducing known constructions and describing how they lead to constraints on RG flows, I will discuss how non-invertible symmetries can also be used to obtain new RG flows. This involves the notion of “non-invertible twisted compactification,” which can be used to construct e.g. novel 3d N=6 theories from 4d N=4 SYM. Finally, I will describe upcoming work in which we give a partial criterion for determining whether a given non-invertible symmetry is “intrinsically non-invertible”, or whether it can be recast (in an appropriate sense) as a standard invertible symmetry with an anomaly.
This will be an introductory discussion of our joint work with Roman Bezrukavnikov. Given a symplectic resolution X, one may study its Gromov-Witten theory and the monodromy group of the curve-counting functions in the Kähler variables. There is also a large group of derived autoequivalences of X coming from its quantization in large prime characteristic, as studied by Bezrukavnikov and collaborators. Conjecturally, the action of the latter group on K(X) is identified with the former group, and we prove this for many X.
Motivated by applications to soft supersymmetry breaking, we revisit the Seiberg-Witten solution for N=2 super Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions with gauge group SU(N). We present a simple exact Taylor series expansion for the periods obtained at the origin of moduli space, thereby generalizing earlier results for SU(2) and SU(3). With the help of these analytic results and others, we analyze the global structure of the Kahler potential, presenting evidence for a conjecture that the unique global minimum is the curve at the origin of moduli space.
Two applications of these results are considered. Firstly, we analyze candidate walls of marginal stability of BPS states on special slices for which the expansions of the periods simplify. Secondly, we consider soft supersymmetry breaking of the N=2 theory to non-supersymmetric four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theory with two massless adjoint Weyl fermions (“adjoint QCD”). The Seiberg-Witten Kahler potential and strong coupling spectrum play a crucial role in this analysis, which ultimately leads to an exploration of the adjoint QCD phase diagram.
I will talk about a monoidal localization theorem for the small quantum group u_q(G), where G is a reductive algebraic group and q is a root of unity. In joint work with Julia Pevtsova, we show that the category of representations for u_q(G) admits a fully faithful tensor embedding into the category of coherent sheaves over a “quantum” flag variety. This quantum flag variety is, essentially, some finitely fibered space over the classical flag variety G/B. I will explain how this embedding theorem codifies certain relationships between the small quantum group and its quantum Borels.
Every braided fusion category has a `framed S-matrix pairing’ which records the braiding between simple objects. Non-degeneracy/Morita invertibility of the category (aka `modularity’ in the oriented case) is equivalent to non-degeneracy of this pairing. I will define higher-dimensional versions of S-matrices which pair morphisms of complementary dimension in higher semisimple categories and sketch a proof that these pairings are non-degenerate if and only if the higher category is. Along the way, I will introduce higher semisimple categories and higher fusion categories and interpret these results in terms of the associated anomalous topological quantum field theories. This is based on joint work in progress with Theo Johnson-Freyd.
I will discuss a proposal for generating non-invertible symmetries in QFTs in d>2, by gauging outer automorphisms. First this will be illustrated in 3d, where the framework is relatively well established, and then extended to higher dimensions. For 4d gauge theories, a comparison to other approaches to non-invertible symmetries is provided, in particular the map to gauging theories with mixed anomalies. This talk is based on work that appeared in 2204.06564 and in progress, with Lakshya Bharwaj (Oxford), Lea Bottini (Oxford) and Apoov Tiwari (Stockholm).
We will review the role of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in modern physics. We will highlight how QFT uses a reductionist perspective as a powerful quantitative tool relating phenomena at different length and energy scales. We will then discuss various examples motivated by string theory and lattice models that challenge this separation of scales and seem outside the standard framework of QFT. These lattice models include theories of fractons and other exotic systems.
We identify infinitely many non-invertible generalized global symmetries in QED and QCD for the real world in the massless limit. In QED, while there is no conserved Noether current for the axial symmetry because of the ABJ anomaly, for every rational angle, we construct a conserved and gauge-invariant topological symmetry operator. Intuitively, it is a composition of the axial rotation and a fractional quantum Hall state coupled to the electromagnetic U(1) gauge field. These conserved symmetry operators do not obey a group multiplication law, but a non-invertible fusion algebra over TQFT coefficients. These non-invertible symmetries lead to selection rules, which are consistent with the scattering amplitudes in QED. We further generalize our construction to QCD, and show that the neutral pion decay can be understood from a matching condition of the non-invertible global symmetry.
Córdova, Ohmori, https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.06243
Choi, Córdova, Hsin, Lam, Shao, https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.09025
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, 6-17 June 2022
The conference and school will be “hybrid” style: most speakers will be in-person, with some virtual speakers; about half of the participants will be in-person, and talks will also be live-streamed on Zoom. Videos will be archived on pirsa.org. Further details can be found at Perimeter’s conference website. Registration has now closed.
Immediately following GCS2022 will be the school and conference QFT for Mathematicians. Although the two events are logically separate, with different organizing teams and registrations, we purposefully scheduled the two schools to be back-to-back so that students can attend both.
Speakers: Mina Aganagic, Federico Bonetti, Kevin Costello, Colleen Delaney, Tudor Dimofte, Thomas Dumitrescu, Pavel Etingof, Iñaki García Etxebarria, André Henriques, Justin Kaidi, Emily Nardoni, Cris Negron, Andrei Okounkov, David Reutter, Sakura Schäfer-Nameki, Nathan Seiberg, Shu-Heng Shao
Conference schedule, titles, and abstracts
Lecturers: Clay Córdova, Dan Freed, Mike Hopkins, Kantaro Ohmori
TAs: Arun Debray, Ho Tat Lam
Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, 19-23 September 2022
Satellite event of the collaboration organised thanks to the support of the SCGP.
Tantivasadakarn, Thorngren, Vishwanath, Verresen, https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.01519
Del Zotto, García Etxebarria, Schäfer-Nameki, https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.10097
Canepa, Cattaneo, https://arxiv.org/abs/2202.08684
Córdova, Ohmori, Rudelius, https://arxiv.org/abs/2202.05866
Del Zotto, Heckman, Meynet, Moscrop, Zhang, https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.08372
Uppsala University May 27-June 3, 2022 (POSTPONED)
The precise program will be announced on this page closer to the date. It is possible to follow these lectures from zoom. Please, contact the organizer to be added to the mailing list.
Lecture 1 – May 27, 2022
Lecture 2 – May 30, 2022
Lecture 3 – June 1st, 2022
Lecture 4 – June 3rd, 2022
Organizer: Michele Del Zotto
Bah, Bonetti, Leung, Weck, https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.07796
Apruzzi, Bonetti, García Etxebarria, Hosseini, Schäfer-Nameki, https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.02092
Bah, Bonetti, Leung, Weck, https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.01790
Ohmori, Tizzano, https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.13445
January 10-14, 2022
Meeting for members of the collaboration only.
PARTICIPANTS
Ibrahima Bah (JHU)
Alberto Cattaneo (University of Zurich)
Clay Córdova (University of Chicago)
Michele Del Zotto (Uppsala University)
Thomas Dumitrescu (UCLA)
Dan Freed (University of Texas, Austin)
Iñaki García Etxebarria (Durham University)
Michael Hopkins (Harvard)
Ken Intriligator (UCSD)
Theo Johnson-Freyd (Dalhousie University and PI)
David Jordan (University of Edinburgh)
Nytia Kitchloo (JHU)
Julia Plavnik (Indiana University)
Ryan Thorngren (KITP)
SCHEDULE
Mornings 9-12 and Afternoons 14-16: structured talks/discussions. All the other times: free discussions/collaboration. The precise agenda for each day is decided by the participants on the day prior.
Local organizer: Ken Intriligator
Kaidi, Ohmori, Zheng, https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.01141
Choi, Cordova, Hsin, Lam, Shao, https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.01139
Delaney, Kim, Plavnik. https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.11374
Claudia has given a series of seven lectures at the Copenhagen Center for Geometry and Topology.
Dualizabitility, higher categories, and topological field theories
In the past decade, using higher categories has proven to be an essential ingredient in the study of topological field theories (TFTs) from a mathematical perspective. The most prominent and seminal result is the Cobordism Hypothesis, which gives a beautiful classification of “fully extended” topological field theories. Here, fully extended means that our TFT can be evaluated at manifolds and bordisms of all dimensions below a given one; conversely, the mathematical language needed to describe the structure is that of higher categories and dualizability therein. In physics, we can interpret these values at all dimensions as (possibly higher) categories of boundary conditions, as point insertions/observables, line operators or higher dimensional operators, etc., depending on the stiuation.
The main goal of this master class will be to explain how to use the cobordism hypothesis to construct TFTs and variations thereof. One example we will look at in detail arises from factorization homology for E_n-algebras, which will also be a key tool in the parallel master class. We will discuss (∞,n)-categories and dualizability in detail, and, time permitting, some extensions and variations.
Thorngren and Wang. https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.12577
Lee, Ohmori, Tachikawa. https://arxiv.org/abs/2108.05369
Dan has given a series of lectures at the Korean Institute for Advanced Studies as part of a long running series organized by Minhyong Kim.
Theo has given a lecture series at the Korean Institute for Advance Studies, as part of a long-running series organized by Minhyong Kim. The abstract for the talks read:
I. A complete mathematical definition of quantum field theory does not yet exist. Following the example of quantum mechanics, I will indicate what a good definition in terms could look like. In this good definition, QFTs are defined in terms of their operator content (including extended operators), and the collection of all operators is required to satisfy some natural properties.
II. After reviewing some classic examples, I will describe the construction of Noether currents and the corresponding extended symmetry operators.
III. One way to build topological extended operators is by “condensing” lower-dimensional operators. The existence of this condensation procedure makes the collection of all topological operators into a semisimple higher category.
IV. Topological operators provide “noninvertible higher-form symmetries”. These symmetries assign charges to operators of complementary dimension. This assignment is a version of what fusion category theorists call an “S-matrix”.
V. The Tannakian formalism suggests a way to recognize higher gauge theories. It also suggests the existence of interesting higher versions of super vector spaces with more exotic tangential structures.
October 11-13, 2021
Simons Center for Geometry and Physics (Stony Brook, NY), International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (Edinburgh, UK), and Cyberspace
Videos are available on the SCGP video repository.
If you are interested in attending this event from cyberspace you are welcome! Please register here
Indicated times are New York / Edinburgh. The program for the event with title and abstracts can be found below.
9 / 14 Welcome and Introduction (Teleman, Del Zotto)
9:30 / 14:30 Discussion: What is QFT? (Freed, Seiberg)
10:30 / 15:30 Coffee
11 / 16 Scheimbauer (Zoom)
12 / 17 Kitaev (live SCGP)
1 Lunch / 18 Dinner
2:30 / 19:30 Hopkins (live SCGP)
3:30 Tea / 20:30 Scottish Tea
4 / 21 Kapustin (Zoom)
5 / 22 free/ad hoc/informal discussions
9 / 14 Check-in with ICMS, free discussion
9:30 / 14:30 García Etxebarria (live ICMS)
10:30 / 15:30 Coffee
11 / 16 Plavnik (live SCGP)
12 / 17 Xiao-Gan Wen (Zoom)
1 Lunch / 18 Dinner
2:30 / 19:30 Discussion: Non-invertible symmetries (Komargodski, Ohmori, Shao,Thorngren)
3:30 Tea / 20:30 Scottish Tea
4 / 21 Gaiotto (Zoom)
5 / 22 free/informal/ad hoc discussion
9 / 14 Check-in with ICMS
9:30 / 14:30 Discussion: Perspectives on gauge theories (Moore, Nekrasov)
10:30 / 15:30 Coffee
11 / 16 Schäfer-Nameki (live ICMS)
12 / 17 Cordova/Dumitrescu (live SCGP)
1 / 18 Closing remarks, Lunch/Dinner, and Goodbyes
What is quantum field theory? – Dan Freed and Nathan Seiberg
Non-invertible symmetries – Zohar Komargodski, Kantaro Ohmori, Shu-Heng Shao, and Ryan Thorngren
Perspectives on gauge theories – Greg Moore and Nikita Nekrasov
Davide Gaiotto: Condensation of topological phases
I will review an higher-dimensional generalization of the notion of projector introduced in my work with Theo Johnson-Freyd.
Anton Kapustin: A local Noether theorem for quantum lattice systems and topological invariants of gapped states
In field theory, conserved currents have well-known ambiguities. Thanks to the Poincare lemma, these ambiguities are physically harmless. Similar issues arise for lattice systems, but have not been explored previously. I will explain some general results which both ensure the existence of local currents on a lattice and describe the corresponding ambiguities. A starring role in this problem is played by a certain 1-shifted differential graded Lie algebra attached to a quantum lattice system. A similar 1-shifted DG Lie algebra can also be attached to any gapped state of a quantum lattice system. I explain how to use this algebraic structure to extract a topological invariant out of a gaped state of a 2d lattice system invariant under a U(1) symmetry. This invariant is the zero-temperature Hall conductance. This is joint work with Nikita Sopenko.
Alexei Kitaev: Short-range entangled quantum states.
This ongoing work aims to understand topological properties of ground states of gapped lattice Hamiltonians. In the special case of free-fermion systems, the homotopy type of the space of states is given by a shifted K or KO spectrum (depending on imposed symmetry). I will consider more general short-range entangled states, focusing on Bose systems with no symmetry. By definition, short-range entangled states are “r-constructible” and “(2r,epsilon)-pure”, where r is some length characterizing the extent of entanglement and epsilon is an error parameter. Some important properties include invertibility (i.e. the existence of an “anti-state”), gluing, and error reduction. Using this toolkit, one can, hopefully, show that the space of short-range entangled states is an Omega-spectrum.
Sakura Schäfer-Nameki: Generalized Symmetries in 5d and 6d
I will give an overview of recent developments in 5d and 6d superconformal field theories, describing their higher-form symmetries, as we all as higher-group structures.
Most of the analysis will be based on the geometric realization of these field theories in M-theory or F-theory on canonical three-fold singularities, and we will discuss how the generalized symmetries are imprinted in the underlying geometry.
Xiao-Gan Wen: A categorical view of symmetry and a holographic view of symmetry
Symmetry are usually described by groups or higher groups. Here I will described a more general view of symmetry in terms of fusion higher category. Symmetries described by different groups and/or different fusion higher categories can be equivalent. There is an even better way to describe symmetries in terms of braided fusion higher category, ie in terms of topological order in one higher dimension. The equivalent symmetries will be described by the same braided fusion higher category (ie the same topological order in one higher dimension).
Clay Córdova/Thomas Dumitrescu: Higher Symmetry in Gauge Theory
We will review a few of the many ways in which higher form and higher group symmetries arise in quantum field theory and how they can be used to analyze and organize renormalization group flows. For concreteness, we focus on non-supersymmetric gauge theory examples in four dimensions. In addition to recent progress, we will also highlight some open problems of possible mathematical and physical interest.
Iñaki García Etxebarria: Categorical Symmetries and String Theory
String theory provides a way to associate field theories to singular geometries. The resulting class of theories is very rich but the individual theories are often poorly understood, and in particular we generically don’t know how to define them starting from a Lagrangian. In this talk I will review part of what we know about deriving the symmetry structure of this class of theories from the geometry of their string theory construction.
Mike Hopkins: Topology and quantum field theory
Julia Plavnik: Gauging, condensation and zesting as quantum symmetries
In this talk, we will present the zesting construction for modular categories. Zesting was first introduced in 2012 and further developed for applications to fermionic theories in 2016. We will give some examples and properties of this construction and compare it with other constructions of modular categories like gauging and condensation.
Claudia Scheimbauer: Higher categorical tools for defects and boundary theories
Nowadays we have many mathematical tools, ie higher categorical, tools to construct and study TQFTs, boundary and defect theories (coupling). In this talk we will give an overview of the state of the art and discuss applications to various examples, such as Reshetikin-Turaev/Chern-Simons theory and lattice field theory and gauge theory.
Curators: Michele Del Zotto, Thomas Dumitrescu, David Jordan, Constantin Teleman