English

von Neumann Subfactors and Non-invertible Symmetries

High Energy Physics - Theory 2025-12-17 v3 Operator Algebras Quantum Algebra

Abstract

We use the language of von Neumann subfactors to investigate non-invertible symmetries in two dimensions. A fusion categorical symmetry C\mathcal{C}, its module category M\mathcal{M}, and a gauging labeled by an algebra object A\mathcal{A} are encoded in the bipartite principal graph of a subfactor. The dual principal graph captures the quantum symmetry C\mathcal{C}' obtained by gauging A\mathcal{A} in C\mathcal{C}, as well as a reverse gauging back to C\mathcal{C}. From a given subfactor NMN \subset M, we derive a quiver diagram that encodes the representations of the associated non-invertible symmetry. We show how this framework provides necessary conditions for admissible gaugings, enabling the construction of generalized orbifold groupoids. To illustrate this strategy, we present three examples: Rep(D4)(D_4) as a warm-up, the higher-multiplicity case Rep(A4)(A_4) with its associated generalized orbifold groupoid and triality symmetry, and Rep(A5)(A_5), where A5A_5 is the smallest non-solvable finite group. For applications to gapless systems, we embed these generalized gaugings as global manipulations on the conformal manifolds of c=1c=1 CFTs and uncover new self-dualities in the exceptional SU(2)1/A5SU(2)_1/A_5 theory. For C\mathcal{C}-symmetric TQFTs, we use the subfactor-derived quiver diagrams to characterize gapped phases, describe their vacuum structure, and classify the recently proposed particle-soliton degeneracies.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2504.05374,
  title  = {von Neumann Subfactors and Non-invertible Symmetries},
  author = {Xingyang Yu and Hao Y. Zhang},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2504.05374},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

47 pages + an appendix, 13 tables, 27 figures; v2: minor changes and added references; v3: 3 figures and explanations added in section 2, minor clarifications added