Gapped boundaries of (3+1)d topological orders

TL;DR

This paper classifies gapped boundaries of (3+1)d topological orders by their ability to host string-like excitations, extending previous models and using advanced mathematical tools to understand boundary distinctions.

Contribution

It introduces a new classification scheme for gapped boundaries of (3+1)d topological orders based on string endpoint behavior, incorporating couplings to (2+1)d phases and fractonic systems.

Findings

Boundaries are classified into two main types based on string endpoints.

Existing boundaries like rough, smooth, and twisted smooth are grouped into these classes.

The classification relates to subgroups of the bulk symmetry group G.

Abstract

Given a gapped boundary of a (3+1)d topological order (TO), one can stack on it a decoupled (2+1)d TO to get another boundary theory. Should one view these two boundaries as "different"? A natural choice would be no. Different classes of gapped boundaries of (3+1)d TO should be defined modulo these decoupled (2+1)d TOs. But is this enough? We examine the possibility of coupling the boundary of a (3+1)d TO to additional (2+1)d TOs or fractonic systems, which leads to even more possibilities for gapped boundaries. Typically, the bulk point-like excitations, when touching the boundary, become excitations in the added (2+1)d phase, while the string-like excitations in the bulk may end on the boundary but with endpoints dressed by some other excitations in the (2+1)d phase. For a good definition of "class" for gapped boundaries of (3+1)d TO, we choose to quotient out the different dressings as well. We characterize a class of gapped boundaries by the string-like excitations that can end on the boundary, whatever their endpoints are. A concrete example is the (3+1)d bosonic toric code. Using group cohomology and category theory, three gapped boundaries have been found previously: rough boundary, smooth boundary and twisted smooth boundary. We can construct many more gapped boundaries beyond these, which all naturally fall into two classes corresponding to whether the $m$-string can or cannot end on the boundary. According to this classification, the previously found three boundaries are grouped as {rough}, {smooth, twisted smooth}. For a (3+1)d TO characterized by a finite group $G$, different classes correspond to different subgroups of $G$. We illustrate the physical picture from various perspectives including coupled layer construction, Walker-Wang model and field theory.