English

Bridging Microscopic Constructions and Continuum Topological Field Theory of Three-Dimensional Non-Abelian Topological Order

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2026-03-12 v3 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics High Energy Physics - Theory Quantum Physics

Abstract

In this paper, we bridge this gap systematically by establishing an explicit correspondence between continuum topological field theory and microscopic lattice constructions of three-dimensional non-Abelian topological orders. While Wilson operators defined by gauge-field holonomies represent topological excitations at long distances, we explicitly construct microscopic lattice operators that create, fuse, and shrink particle and loop excitations, derive their fusion and shrinking rules microscopically, and show how non-Abelian shrinking channels are selectively controlled through the internal degrees of freedom of loop creation operators. Crucially, we demonstrate that the lattice shrinking rules satisfy the \textit{fusion-shrinking consistency} relations previously identified at long distances, thereby establishing these relations as a general, microscopically verifiable principle. Moreover, by computing the complete excitation spectrum alongside all fusion and shrinking data microscopically, we establish a correspondence between the D4\mathbb{D}_4 quantum double lattice model and the BFBF field theory with an AABAAB twist and gauge group (Z2)3(\mathbb{Z}_2)^3. Through the precise microscopic construction of the BF+AABBF+AAB field theory, this work definitively addresses the long-standing skepticism regarding its microscopic realizability, which has persisted over the past years. Finally, our work bridges the gap between theories at long and short distances, taking a crucial step toward a more complete microscopic construction of topological data previously identified at long distances, including braiding, pentagon relations, and fusion-shrinking hexagon relations. This progress holds the potential to deepen our understanding of quantum matter across all length scales and foster collaboration between researchers from diverse fields and approaches.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.21148,
  title  = {Bridging Microscopic Constructions and Continuum Topological Field Theory of Three-Dimensional Non-Abelian Topological Order},
  author = {Yizhou Huang and Zhi-Feng Zhang and Qing-Rui Wang and Peng Ye},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.21148},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

50 pages. Length limit in Abstract metadata. The complete version of Abstract is shown in PDF