Lattice non-invertible symmetry from non-commuting transfer matrices

Abstract

Conventional quantum integrability is encoded in a commuting algebra of transfer matrices. By contrast, several models possess additional non-commuting conserved charges with important physical consequences, yet the nature of the corresponding symmetry has remained elusive. Focusing on the XXZ spin chain at roots of unity, we show that the non-Abelian analogue of the commuting transfer-matrix algebra is governed by quadratic relations following from a new class of unbalanced Yang--Baxter/RLL relations. This quadratic algebra is shown to encode precisely the Onsager algebra, for which we construct explicit matrix-product representations of both its generators and its duality defect line. The latter obeys $\mathbb{Z}_N$ Tambara--Yamagami fusion rules, thereby providing a lattice realization of the topological defect lines of the compactified boson conformal field theory. Our results identify non-Abelian transfer-matrix algebras as a microscopic origin for Onsager symmetry and dualities in lattice models.