Higher S-matrices and a form of Poincare duality for anomalous TQFTs

David Reutter (U Hamburg)

Aug 18. 2022, 11:30 — 12:30

In this talk, I will explain how in any semisimple (n+1)-dimensional anomalous TQFT, Hopf linking leads to a perfect pairing between (certain equivalence classes of) operators/defects of dimension k and of dimension (n-k). In fact, I will outline how non-degeneracy of these `S-matrix pairings' precisely characterizes the anomalous TQFTs amongst all relative (n+2)/(n+1)-dimensional TQFTs. 

Along the way, I will explain how the set of equivalence classes of codimension-k operators may be thought of as the k-th `homotopy set' pi_k T of a TQFT T — for k >= 1, this set forms the basis of a certain kind of fusion ring, generalizing the group structure familiar from homotopy theory.

This is based on joint work in progress with Theo Johnson-Freyd.

 

 

Further Information
Venue:
ESI Boltzmann Lecture Hall
Recordings:
Recording
Files:
Slides
Associated Event:
Higher Structures and Field Theory (Thematic Programme)
Organizer(s):
Anton Alekseev (U Genève)
Stefan Fredenhagen (U of Vienna)
Nicolai Reshetikhin (UC, Berkeley)
Thomas Strobl (U Lyon)
Chenchang Zhu (U Göttingen)