# Invariance of topological indices under Hilbert space truncation

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that topological indices of wavefunctions remain invariant under Hilbert space truncation if the truncated state stays normalizable and symmetry conditions are preserved, with implications for topological phase characterization.

## Contribution

It establishes the invariance of topological indices under Hilbert space truncation and proposes a partial quantum tomography method to measure these indices efficiently.

## Key findings

- Topological indices are preserved under Hilbert space truncation for normalizable states.
- Truncation may alter the physical interpretation if boundary conditions are affected.
- A partial quantum tomography scheme can extract topological indices from limited wavefunction data.

## Abstract

We show that the topological index of a wavefunction, computed in the space of twisted boundary phases, is preserved under Hilbert space truncation, provided the truncated state remains normalizable. If truncation affects the boundary condition of the resulting state, the invariant index may acquire a different physical interpretation. If the index is symmetry protected, the truncation should preserve the protecting symmetry. We discuss implications of this invariance using paradigmatic integer and fractional Chern insulators, $Z_2$ topological insulators, and Spin-$1$ AKLT and Heisenberg chains, as well as its relation with the notion of bulk entanglement. As a possible application, we propose a partial quantum tomography scheme from which the topological index of a generic multi-component wavefunction can be extracted by measuring only a small subset of wavefunction components, equivalent to the measurement of a bulk entanglement topological index.