Aspects of Symmetry, Topology and Anomalies in Quantum Matter

Abstract

In this thesis, we explore the aspects of symmetry, topology and anomalies in quantum matter with entanglement from both condensed matter and high energy theory viewpoints. The focus of our research is on the gapped many-body quantum systems including symmetry-protected topological states and topologically ordered states. Chapter 1. Introduction. Chapter 2. Geometric phase, wavefunction overlap, spacetime path integral and topological invariants. Chapter 3. Aspects of Symmetry. Chapter 4. Aspects of Topology. Chapter 5. Aspects of Anomalies. Chapter 6. Quantum Statistics and Spacetime Surgery. Chapter 7. Conclusion: Finale and A New View of Emergence-Reductionism. (Thesis supervisor: Prof. Xiao-Gang Wen)

arXiv commentPh.D. thesis, MIT, Dept. of Physics. Defended and submitted in May 2015. Citable URI: http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/99285 Partially based on arxiv:1212.4863, arXiv:1306.3695, arxiv:1307.7480, arXiv:1310.8291, arXiv:1403.5256, arXiv:1404.7854, arXiv:1405.7689, arXiv:1408.6514, arXiv:1409.3216. With refinement. 250 pages