BIMSA > BIMSA TQFT and Higher Symmetries Seminar Enforced symmetry breaking in 3D topological order: time reversal incompatibility and a possible road to parity violation
Enforced symmetry breaking in 3D topological order: time reversal incompatibility and a possible road to parity violation
Organizers
Ansi Bai , Hank Chen , Liang Kong , Yilong Wang , Zhihao Zhang , Hao Zheng
Speaker
Shang-Qiang Ning
Time
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 9:45 AM - 11:30 AM
Venue
A3-2-301
Online
Zoom 468 248 1222 (BIMSA)
Abstract
Symmetry can be intrinsically broken in topological phases due to inherent incompatibilities with their underlying topological structure—a phenomenon known as enforced symmetry breaking (ESB). In this talk, I first review the concept of ESB in two-dimensional invertible topological order and then extend the discussion to three-dimensional fermionic topological order. In particular, I discuss an example of three-dimensional fermionic topological order that exhibits ESB of time-reversal symmetry (with $T^2 = 1$). I also examine how the ESB of time-reversal symmetry is related to that of parity symmetry, shedding light on a potential new route toward parity violation.