Reflection positivity and a refined index for 2d invertible phases

Abstract

We analyze the validity of reflection positivity in the classification of invertible phases of quantum spin systems. We provide a mathematical model in which every 2d invertible state admits a reflection-positive representative. We prove that reflection positivity provides a canonical lift from the set of invertible phases to the set of invertible phases protected by a $\mathbb{Z}/N$-rotational symmetry. Using this, we define a refined version of the index recently introduced by the author. This refined version conjecturally provides a microscopic characterization of an invariant that coincides with the chiral central charge $c_{-}$ when conformal field theory effectively describes the boundary modes.

arXiv comment28 pages, 7 figures. v2: Lemma 3.1, Lemma 4.1, and a paragraph at the end of Section 4 added