Lattice models for phases and transitions with non-invertible symmetries
- 1University of Oxford
- 2Niels Bohr Institute
Abstract
Non-invertible categorical symmetries have emerged as a powerful tool to uncover new beyond-Landau phases of matter, both gapped and gapless, along with second order phase transitions between them. The general theory of such phases in (1+1)d has been studied using the Symmetry Topological Field Theory (SymTFT), also known as topological holography. This has unearthed the infrared (IR) structure of these phases and transitions. In this paper, we describe how the SymTFT information can be converted into an ultraviolet (UV) anyonic chain lattice model realizing, in the IR limit, these phases and transitions. In many cases, the Hilbert space of the anyonic chain is tensor product decomposable and the model can be realized as a quantum spin-chain Hamiltonian. We also describe operators acting on the lattice models that are charged under non-invertible symmetries and act as order parameters for the phases and transitions. In order to fully describe the action of non-invertible symmetries, it is crucial to understand the symmetry twisted sectors of the lattice models, which we describe in detail. Throughout the paper, we illustrate the general concepts using the symmetry category \mathsf{Rep}(S_3) 𝖱 𝖾 𝗉 ( S 3 ) formed by representations of the permutation group S_3 S 3 , but our procedure can be applied to any fusion category symmetry.
Related
- Gapless phases in (2+1)d with non-invertible symmetries
- Non-invertible symmetries and modular invariance in lattice models
- More about modular symmetries and non-invertible properties in magnetized compactifications
- Non-invertible symmetries in the axiverse, and the imaginary wormholes
- Irrational CFTs from coupled anyon chains with non-invertible symmetries?
BibTeX
@article{bhardwaj2026lattice,
title = {{Lattice models for phases and transitions with non-invertible symmetries}},
author = {Lakshya Bhardwaj and Lea E. Bottini and Sakura Schäfer‐Nameki and Apoorv Tiwari},
journal = {SciPost Physics},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.21468/scipostphys.20.5.134},
url = {https://doi.org/10.21468/scipostphys.20.5.134},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lattice models for phases and transitions with non-invertible symmetries
AU - Lakshya Bhardwaj
AU - Lea E. Bottini
AU - Sakura Schäfer‐Nameki
AU - Apoorv Tiwari
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/13
JO - SciPost Physics
DO - 10.21468/scipostphys.20.5.134
UR - https://doi.org/10.21468/scipostphys.20.5.134
AB - Non-invertible categorical symmetries have emerged as a powerful tool to uncover new beyond-Landau phases of matter, both gapped and gapless, along with second order phase transitions between them. The general theory of such phases in (1+1)d has been studied using the Symmetry Topological Field Theory (SymTFT), also known as topological holography. This has unearthed the infrared (IR) structure of these phases and transitions. In this paper, we describe how the SymTFT information can be converted into an ultraviolet (UV) anyonic chain lattice model realizing, in the IR limit, these phases and transitions. In many cases, the Hilbert space of the anyonic chain is tensor product decomposable and the model can be realized as a quantum spin-chain Hamiltonian. We also describe operators acting on the lattice models that are charged under non-invertible symmetries and act as order parameters for the phases and transitions. In order to fully describe the action of non-invertible symmetries, it is crucial to understand the symmetry twisted sectors of the lattice models, which we describe in detail. Throughout the paper, we illustrate the general concepts using the symmetry category \mathsf{Rep}(S_3) 𝖱 𝖾 𝗉 ( S 3 ) formed by representations of the permutation group S_3 S 3 , but our procedure can be applied to any fusion category symmetry.
SN - 2542-4653
ER -