Mutual Chern-Simons theory for Z_2 topological order

TL;DR

This paper explores various Z_2 topological ordered states in frustrated spin systems, revealing how different orders are characterized by distinct symmetry realizations within a common mutual Chern-Simons theoretical framework.

Contribution

It demonstrates that different Z_2 topological orders are distinguished by their projective symmetry realizations in a unified mutual Chern-Simons theory.

Findings

Different Z_2 topological orders have distinct projective symmetry groups.

Ground-state degeneracy and quantum numbers vary with topological order.

Edge states and quasi-particle properties reflect the underlying symmetry realizations.

Abstract

We study several different $Z_2$ topological ordered states in frustrated spin systems. The effective theories for those different Z_2 topological orders all have the same form -- a Z_2 gauge theory which can also be written as a mutual U(1) x U(1) Chern-Simons theory. However, we find that the different Z_2 topological orders are reflected in different projective realizations of lattice symmetry in the same effective mutual Chern-Simons theory. This result is obtained by comparing the ground-state degeneracy, the ground-state quantum numbers, the gapless edge state, and the projective symmetry group of quasi-particles calculated from the slave-particle theory and from the effective mutual Chern-Simons theories. Our study reveals intricate relations between topological order and symmetry.