$S$-duality of $u(1)$ gauge theory with $\theta =\pi$ on non-orientable manifolds: Applications to topological insulators and superconductors

TL;DR

This paper investigates the compatibility of electric-magnetic $S$-duality with time-reversal symmetry in $u(1)$ gauge theories on non-orientable manifolds, providing evidence for a duality conjecture and implications for topological insulators and superconductors.

Contribution

It offers a detailed analysis of $S$-duality on non-orientable manifolds, supporting a conjecture about dual theories and connecting to topological phases of matter.

Findings

Partition functions of dual theories are equal on $ ext{RP}^4$

Duality relates topological insulators and superconductors

Supports conjecture of $S$-duality in non-orientable settings

Abstract

Electric-magnetic duality ($S$-duality) is a well-known property of pure $u(1)$ gauge theory in 3+1 dimensions. In this paper, we investigate the compatibility of this duality with time-reversal symmetry. We consider two theories obtained by coupling a Dirac fermion with an "inverted" sign of the mass $m$ to a $u(1)$ gauge field. Time-reversal in the two theories is implemented respectively via the $T$ and $CT$ symmetries of the Dirac fermion. It was recently conjectured (C. Wang and T. Senthil (arXiv:1505.03520), and M. Metlitski and A.Vishwanath (arXiv:1505.05142)) that in the $|m| \to \infty$ limit these two theories are $S$-dual to each other. We provide support for this conjecture by studying partition functions of the two theories on non-orientable manifolds as a way to probe the realization of time-reversal. Upon integrating out the Dirac fermion, topological terms in the actions of the two theories are generated. While on an orientable manifold topological terms in both theories reduce to a $\theta$-term with $\theta = \pi$, on a non-orientable manifold they are distinct. We explicitly compute partition functions of the two theories on the manifold $\mathbb{RP}^4$ and show that they are equal; this result combined with certain physical arguments is sufficient to establish the duality. The two theories can be viewed as a gauged topological insulator in class AII and a gauged topological superconductor in class AIII, and the bulk duality allows us to derive previously conjectured non-trivial symmetric gapped surface states of these phases.