Published May 2, 2025 | Version Published
Journal Article Open

Subsystem symmetry fractionalization and foliated field theory

  • 1. Mani L. Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics
  • 2. ROR icon California Institute of Technology
  • 3. ROR icon University of Colorado Boulder
  • 4. ROR icon University of Sydney

Abstract

Topological quantum matter exhibits a range of exotic phenomena when enriched by subdimensional symmetries. This includes new features beyond those that appear in the conventional setting of global symmetry enrichment. A recently discovered example is a type of subsystem symmetry fractionalization that occurs through a different mechanism to global symmetry fractionalization. In this work we extend the study of subsystem symmetry fractionalization through new examples derived from the general principle of embedding subsystem symmetry into higher-form symmetry. This leads to new types of symmetry fractionalization that are described by foliation dependent higher-form symmetries. This leads to field theories and lattice models that support previously unseen anomalous subsystem symmetry fractionalization. Our work expands the range of exotic topological physics that is enabled by subsystem symmetry in field theory and on the lattice.

Copyright and License

Copyright P.-S. Hsin et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Published by the SciPost Foundation.

Acknowledgement

We thank José Garre-Rubio and Michael Hermele for collaboration during the early stages of this work. We thank Meng Cheng and Ho Tat Lam for useful discussions and comments on a draft. We thank Xie Chen and Kevin Slagle for comments on a draft.

Funding

The work of P.-S.H. is supported by the Simons Collaboration on Global Categorical Symmetries. DTS and AD are supported by the Simons Collaboration on Ultra-Quantum Matter, which is a grant from the Simons Foundation (DTS: 651440, AD: 651438). The work of DW on this project was supported by the Australian Research Council
Discovery Early Career Research Award (DE220100625).

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Additional details

Related works

Is new version of
Discussion Paper: arXiv:2403.09098 (arXiv)

Funding

Simons Foundation
651440
Simons Foundation
651438
Australian Research Council
DE220100625

Dates

Submitted
2024-04-10
Accepted
2025-04-29

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Caltech groups
Institute for Quantum Information and Matter, Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (PMA)
Publication Status
Published