Deformed quantum double realization of the toric code and beyond

TL;DR

This paper introduces deformed quantum double models derived from lattice gauge theory transfer matrices, which remain in a quantum phase despite perturbations, expanding the understanding of topological phases including the toric code and double semion models.

Contribution

It constructs exactly solvable deformed quantum double models with modified algebraic structures, encompassing both Abelian and non-Abelian phases, and extends to twisted and semion phases.

Findings

Deformed models preserve topological order under perturbations.

Modified algebraic relations characterize new quantum phases.

Explicit construction of excitation operators and analysis of their braiding.

Abstract

Quantum double models, such as the toric code, can be constructed from transfer matrices of lattice gauge theories with discrete gauge groups and parametrized by the center of the gauge group algebra and its dual. For general choices of these parameters the transfer matrix contains operators acting on links which can also be thought of as perturbations to the quantum double model driving it out of its topological phase and destroying the exact solvability of the quantum double model. We modify these transfer matrices with perturbations and extract exactly solvable models which remain in a quantum phase, thus nullifying the effect of the perturbation. The algebra of the modified vertex and plaquette operators now obey a deformed version of the quantum double algebra. The Abelian cases are shown to be in the quantum double phase whereas the non-Abelian phases are shown to be in a modified phase of the corresponding quantum double phase. These are illustrated with the groups $\mathbb{Z}_n$ and $S_3$. The quantum phases are determined by studying the excitations of these systems namely their fusion rules and the statistics. We then go further to construct a transfer matrix which contains the other $\mathbb{Z}_2$ phase namely the double semion phase. More generally for other discrete groups these transfer matrices contain the twisted quantum double models. These transfer matrices can be thought of as being obtained by introducing extra parameters into the transfer matrix of lattice gauge theories. These parameters are central elements belonging to the tensor products of the algebra and its dual and are associated to vertices and volumes of the three dimensional lattice. As in the case of the lattice gauge theories we construct the operators creating the excitations in this case and study their braiding and fusion properties.