Speaker: Nathan Seiberg (IAS)
Title: Proliferation transitions from a 2+1d TQFT
Abstract: After clarifying some confusing terminology associated with “anyon condensation,” we will describe joint work with Meng Cheng about phase transitions out of a general topological phase in 2+1 dimensions.
Assuming that the transition is triggered by an Abelian anyon, which can be described by coupling the TQFT to a single complex scalar field, we will present the most general relativistic field theory for the transition, and will analyze its properties. In special cases, the TQFT after the transition is related to the original one by gauging an anomaly-free one-form global symmetry. However, in some of these cases, the transition theory is incompatible with enrichment by a global U(1) symmetry.
Although there will be some overlap, this talk will be quite different from some recent talks I gave on related topics