English

Quantized topological invariant of symmetry-projected Gibbs states

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2026-08-05 v1 Other Condensed Matter Statistical Mechanics High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

We study Gibbs states projected onto the symmetric sector of contractible one-form symmetries. In a three-dimensional cluster-model interpolation, this projection stabilizes symmetry-protected topological and projected-paramagnetic phases, both sharply distinct from thermal disorder. A flux-twisted membrane invariant distinguishes these three phases by the values 1,+1,0-1,+1,0, respectively. These values are exact on the endpoint, self-dual, zero-temperature, and infinite-temperature lines; elsewhere their quantization requires positive spatial-sheet, winding-line, and interface tensions. Quantum Monte Carlo supports the quantization through tension diagnostics and direct finite-size estimates.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2608.04350,
  title  = {Quantized topological invariant of symmetry-projected Gibbs states},
  author = {Weiguang Cao and Haruki Watanabe},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2608.04350},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

6+16 pages, 2+2 figures, 1 table