Exact bosonization in arbitrary dimensions

Abstract

We extend the previous results of exact bosonization, mapping from fermionic operators to Pauli matrices, in 2d and 3d to arbitrary dimensions. This bosonization map gives a duality between any fermionic system in arbitrary $n$ spatial dimensions and a new class of $(n-1)$-form ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ gauge theories in $n$ dimensions with a modified Gauss's law. This map preserves locality and has an explicit dependence on the second Stiefel-Whitney class and a choice of spin structure on the manifold. A new formula for Stiefel-Whitney homology classes on lattices is derived. In the Euclidean path integral, this exact bosonization map is equivalent to introducing a topological "Steenrod square" term to the spacetime action.

25 pages, 4 figures