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 , 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