English

The Sum Over Topological Sectors and $\theta$ in the 2+1-Dimensional $\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^1$ $\sigma$-Model

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2018-03-14 v3 High Energy Physics - Theory Algebraic Topology

Abstract

We discuss the three spacetime dimensional CPN\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^N model and specialize to the CP1\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^1 model. Because of the Hopf map π3(CP1)=Z\pi_3(\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^1)=\mathbb{Z} one might try to couple the model to a periodic θ\theta parameter. However, we argue that only the values θ=0\theta=0 and θ=π\theta=\pi are consistent. For these values the Skyrmions in the model are bosons and fermions respectively, rather than being anyons. We also extend the model by coupling it to a topological quantum field theory, such that the Skyrmions are anyons. We use techniques from geometry and topology to construct the θ=π\theta =\pi theory on arbitrary 3-manifolds, and use recent results about invertible field theories to prove that no other values of θ\theta satisfy the necessary locality.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1707.05448,
  title  = {The Sum Over Topological Sectors and $\theta$ in the 2+1-Dimensional $\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^1$ $\sigma$-Model},
  author = {Daniel S. Freed and Zohar Komargodski and Nathan Seiberg},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1707.05448},
  year   = {2018}
}

Comments

17 pages. v2 minor corrections and additions. v3 more minor corrections