Related papers: Hidden topological angles and Lefschetz thimbles
Gauge theories in various dimensions often admit discrete theta angles, that arise from gauging a global symmetry with an additional symmetry protected topological (SPT) phase. We discuss how the global symmetry and 't Hooft anomaly depends…
We introduce a large class of $\theta$ angles in quantum field theory that we call symmetry $\theta$ angles. Unlike conventional $\theta$ angles whose definition depends on a choice of a path integral, symmetry $\theta$ angles are intrinsic…
The unconstrained classical system equivalent to spatially homogeneous SU(2) Yang-Mills theory with theta angle is obtained and canonically quantized. The Schr\"odinger eigenvalue problem is solved approximately for the low lying states…
The Hamiltonian reduction of classical SU(2) Yang-Mills field theory to the equivalent unconstrained theory of gauge invariant local dynamical variables is generalized to the case of nonvanishing theta angle. It is shown that for any theta…
The topological $\theta$-angle in gauge theories engenders a series of fundamental phenomena, including violations of charge-parity (CP) symmetry, dynamical topological transitions, and confinement--deconfinement transitions. At the same…
We show that Hall conductance and its non-abelian and higher-dimensional analogs are obstructions to promoting a symmetry of a state to a gauge symmetry. To do this, we define a local Lie algebra over a Grothendieck site as a pre-cosheaf of…
The quantum Hall effect is generally understood for free electron gases, in which topologically protected edge states between Landau levels (LLs) form conducting channels at the edge of the sample. In periodic crystals, the LLs are…
This is an introductory level review of recent applications of resurgent trans-series and Picard-Lefschetz theory to quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. Resurgence connects local perturbative data with global topological structure.…
The notion of a band gap is ubiquitous in the characterization of matter. Particularly interesting are pseudo-gaps, which are enigmatic regions of very low density of states that have been linked to novel phenomena like high temperature…
Starting from holography, we derive the symmetry TFT for $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM with $\mathfrak{so}(2n)$ gauge algebra, including terms which were previously unaccounted for holographically, by considering the action of the symmetry TFT on…
A hidden gauge theory structure of quantum mechanics which is invisible in its conventional formulation is uncovered. Quantum mechanics is shown to be equivalent to a certain Yang-Mills theory with an infinite-dimensional gauge group and a…
We study a topological field theory describing confining phases of gauge theories in four dimensions. It can be formulated on a lattice using a discrete 2-form field talking values in a finite abelian group (the magnetic gauge group). We…
The current applications of non-Hermitian but ${\cal PT}-$symmetric Hamiltonians $H$ cover several, mutually not too closely connected subdomains of quantum physics. Mathematically, the split between the open and closed systems can be…
The Half-Transform Ansatz (HTA) is a proposed method to solve hyper-geometric equations in Quantum Phase Space by transforming a differential operator to an algebraic variable and including a specific exponential factor in the wave…
It is well known that quantum tunneling can be described by instantons in the imaginary-time path integral formalism. However, its description in the real-time path integral formalism has been elusive. Here we establish a statement that…
In a Euclidean path integral formulation of gauge theory and quantum mechanics, the theta-term induces a sign problem, and relatedly, a complex phase for the fugacity of topological defects; whereas in Minkowskian formulation, it induces a…
We show that certain 't~Hooft anomalies that evade detection on commonly used closed four-dimensional manifolds become visible when a quantum field theory is placed on asymptotically locally Euclidean (ALE) spaces. As a concrete example, we…
We present a bottom-up holographic description of the QCD $\theta$-vacuum and the $U(1)_A$ anomaly in five dimensions. The multi-branched $\theta$-vacuum structure emerges geometrically from a higher-dimensional gauge field, while the axial…
We report on the study of cleaved-edge-overgrown line junctions with a serendipitously created narrow opening in an otherwise thin, precise line barrier. Two sets of zero-bias anomalies are observed with an enhanced conductance for filling…
The prediction and realization of the quantum anomalous Hall effect are often intimately connected to honeycomb lattices in which the sublattice degree of freedom plays a central role in the nontrivial topology. Two-dimensional Wigner…