Topological symmetries and their gaugings in 2d CFT and 3d TFT

Abstract: The study of topological defects in quantum field theory has seen a wealth of activity recently leading to many interesting insights, for example the explicit realisation of non-invertible topological defects in higher dimensional QFTs via the gauging of higher form symmetries, or the description of the higher algebraic structures inherent in these topological defects. In this talk, I would like to focus on low-dimensional examples, where such defects and their properties have been investigated for some time already. I would like to exhibit some of the properties of topological defects in two-dimensional conformal field theory and in three-dimensional topological field theory, and show some of the structural insights into 2d CFT and 3d TFT one can gain with the help of defects. In this way, the well-understood low-dimensional case might serve as a source of ideas and as a test case for higher dimensional constructions.

mathematical physicsalgebraic topologycategory theoryquantum algebra

Audience: researchers in the topic

Topological Quantum Field Theory Club (IST, Lisbon)

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