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Eric C. Rowell

Publications and source records attributed to Eric C. Rowell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Unitary Yang--Baxter Operators: Towards a Classification

There is a well-known circle of conjectures relating unitary solutions of the Yang--Baxter equation, unitary braided fusion categories, topological quantum computation, and link invariants. Progress is limited by the lack of a classification of unitary Yang--Baxter operators. We propose a conjectural classification with three generating sources: monomial solutions, group-type solutions arising from Yetter--Drinfeld modules, and solutions from twisted group-algebra towers. We conjecture that, up to unit scalars and local unitary basis changes, all solutions are generated by these sources. We provide evidence for our classification conjecture by means of computational searches for unitary Yang--Baxter operators among Clifford groups and a polynomial-in-Pauli ansatz. This search yields only a few solutions that do not appear to be equivalent to monomial or group type solutions. Direct calculations identify their link invariants with specializations of the HOMFLYPT and BMW/Kauffman invariants; the latter is a squared Jones specialization at a primitive sixth root, and the corresponding qutrit operator strictly localizes the semisimple quotient of the BMW algebra specializations $\mathcal{C}_n(q^3,e^{\pi\ii/6})$ associated with the braided fusion category $SO(4)_2$. The quaternionic Family III specialization realizes a two-eigenvalue class and gives tensor-power realization of the semisimple Hecke algebra tower associated with \(SU(3)_3\). Significantly, this answers a recent existence question of Lechner, and verifies an open case of the Rowell-Wang localization conjecture from 2010.

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arXiv2025

Paravortices: loop braid representations with both generators involutive

We first motivate the study of a certain quotient of the loop braid category, both for the mathematics underpinning recent approaches to topological quantum computation; and as a key example in non-semisimple higher representation theory. For reasons that will become clear, we call this quotient the mixed doubles category, $MD$. Then our main result is a theorem classifying all mixed doubles representations in rank-2. Each representation yields a mixed doubles group representation for every loop braid group $LB_n$, and we are able to analyse the unified linear representation theory of many of these sequences of representations, using a mixture of very classical, classical, and new techniques. In particular this is a motivating example for the `glue' generalisation of charge-conserving representation theory (a form of rigid higher non-semisimplicity) introduced recently.

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arXiv2024

The Condensed Fiber Product and Zesting

We introduce the condensed fiber product of two $G$-crossed braided fusion categories, generalizing existing constructions in the literature. We show that this product is closely related to the cohomological construction known as zesting. Furthermore, the condensed fiber product defines a monoidal structure on the 2-category of $G$-crossed and braided extensions of braided categories with a fixed transparent symmetric pointed subcategory.

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arXiv2023

Braided Zestings of Verlinde Modular Categories and Their Modular Data

Zesting of braided fusion categories is a procedure that can be used to obtain new modular categories from a modular category with non-trivial invertible objects. In this paper, we classify and construct all possible braided zesting data for modular categories associated with quantum groups at roots of unity. We produce closed formulas, based on the root system of the associated Lie algebra, for the modular data of these new modular categories.

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arXiv2023

Solutions to the constant Yang-Baxter equation: additive charge conservation in three dimensions

We find all solutions to the constant Yang--Baxter equation $R_{12}R_{13}R_{23}=R_{23}R_{13}R_{12}$ in three dimensions, subject to an additive charge-conservation ansatz. This ansatz is a generalisation of (strict) charge-conservation, for which a complete classification in all dimensions was recently obtained. Additive charge-conservation introduces additional sector-coupling parameters -- in 3 dimensions there are $4$ such parameters. In the generic dimension 3 case, in which all of the $4$ parameters are nonzero, we find there is a single 3 parameter family of solutions. We give a complete analysis of this solution, giving the structure of the centraliser (symmetry) algebra in all orders. We also solve the remaining cases with three, two, or one nonzero sector-coupling parameter(s).

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arXiv2023

Classification of modular data up to rank 12

We use the computer algebra system GAP to classify modular data up to rank 12. This extends the previously obtained classification of modular data up to rank 6. Our classification includes all the modular data from modular tensor categories up to rank 12, with a few possible exceptions at rank 12 and levels $5,7$ and $14$. Those exceptions are eliminated up to a certain bound by an extensive finite search in place of required infinite search. Our list contains a few potential unitary modular data which are not known to correspond to any unitary modular tensor categories (such as those from Kac-Moody algebra, twisted quantum doubles of finite group, as well as their Abelian anyon condensations). It remains to be shown if those potential modular data can be realized by modular tensor categories or not. We provide some evidence that all may be constructed from centers of near-group categories or gauging group symmetries of known modular tensor categories, with the exception of a total of five cases at rank 11 (with $D^2 =1964.590$) and 12 (with $D^2 =3926.660$). The classification of modular data corresponds to a classification of modular tensor categories (up to modular isotopes which are not expected to be present at low ranks). The classification of modular tensor categories leads to a classification of gapped quantum phases of matter in 2-dimensional space for bosonic lattice systems with no symmetry, as well as a classification of generalized symmetries in 1-dimensional space.

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arXiv2023

On near-group centers and super-modular categories

The construction and classification of super-modular categories is an ongoing project, of interest in algebra, topology and physics. In a recent paper, Cho, Kim, Seo and You produced two mysterious families of super-modular data, with no known realization. We show that these data are realized by modifying the Drinfeld centers of near-group fusion categories associated with the groups $\mathbb Z/6$ and $\mathbb Z/2\times \mathbb Z/4$. The methods we develop have wider applications and we describe some of these, with a view towards understanding when near-group centers provide super-modular categories.

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arXiv2023

Classification of spin-chain braid representations

A braid representation is a monoidal functor from the braid category $\mathsf{B}$, for example given by a solution to the constant Yang-Baxter equation. Given a monoidal category $\mathsf{C}$ with $ob(\mathsf{C})=\mathbb{N}$, a rank-$N$ charge-conserving representation (or spin-chain representation) is a strict monoidal functor $F$ from $\mathsf{C}$ to the category $\mathrm{Match}^N$ of rank-$N$ charge-conserving matrices that is natural in the sense that $F(1)=1$}. In this work we construct all spin-chain braid representations, and classify up to suitable notions of isomorphism.

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arXiv2023

Classification of charge-conserving loop braid representations

Here a loop braid representation is a monoidal functor $\mathsf{F}$ from the loop braid category $\mathsf{L}$ to a suitable target category, and is $N$-charge-conserving if that target is the category $\mathsf{Match}^N$ of charge-conserving matrices (specifically $\mathsf{Match}^N$ is the same rank-$N$ charge-conserving monoidal subcategory of the monoidal category $\mathsf{Mat}$ used to classify braid representations in arXiv:2112.04533) with $\mathsf{F}$ strict, and surjective on $\mathbb{N}$, the object monoid. We classify and construct all such representations. In particular we prove that representations fall into varieties indexed by a set in bijection with the set of pairs of plane partitions of total degree $N$.

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arXiv2022

Braids, Motions and Topological Quantum Computing

The topological model for quantum computation is an inherently fault-tolerant model built on anyons in topological phases of matter. A key role is played by the braid group, and in this survey we focus on a selection of ways that the mathematical study of braids is crucial for the theory. We provide some brief historical context as well, emphasizing ways that braiding appears in physical contexts. We also briefly discuss the 3-dimensional generalization of braiding: motions of knots.

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arXiv2022

Reconstructing Braided Subcategories of $SU(N)_k$

Ocneanu rigidity implies that there are finitely many (braided) fusion categories with a given set of fusion rules. While there is no method for determining all such categories up to equivalence, there are a few cases for which can. For example, Kazhdan and Wenzl described all fusion categories with fusion rules isomorphic to those of $SU(N)_k$. In this paper we extend their results to a statement about braided fusion categories, and obtain similar results for certain subcategories of $SU(N)_k$.

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arXiv2022

Higher central charges and Witt groups

In this paper, we introduce the definitions of signatures of braided fusion categories, which are proved to be invariants of their Witt equivalence classes. These signature assignments define group homomorphisms on the Witt group. The higher central charges of pseudounitary modular categories can be expressed in terms of these signatures, which are applied to prove that the Ising modular categories have infinitely many square roots in the Witt group. This result is further applied to prove a conjecture of Davydov-Nikshych-Ostrik on the super-Witt group: the torsion subgroup generated by the completely anisotropic s-simple braided fusion categories has infinite rank.

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arXiv2022

The Witt classes of $SO(2r)_{2r}$

We study the Witt classes of the modular categories $SO(2r)_{2r}$ associated with quantum groups of type $D_r$ at $4r-2$th roots of unity. From these classes we derive infinitely many Witt classes of order 2 that are linearly independent modulo the subgroup generated by the pointed modular categories. In particular we produce an example of a simple, completely anisotropic modular category that is not pointed whose Witt class has order 2, answering a question of Davydov, Müger, Nikshych and Ostrik. Our results show that the trivial Witt class $[Vec]$ has infinitely many square roots modulo the pointed classes, in analogy with the recent construction of infinitely many square roots of the Ising Witt classes modulo the pointed classes constructed in a similar way from certain type $B_r$ modular categories. We compare the subgroups generated by the Ising square roots and $[Vec]$ square roots and provide evidence that they also generate linearly independent subgroups.

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arXiv2021

Generalisations of Hecke algebras from Loop Braid Groups

We introduce a generalisation $LH_n$ of the ordinary Hecke algebras informed by the loop braid group $LB_n$ and the extension of the Burau representation thereto. The ordinary Hecke algebra has many remarkable arithmetic and representation theoretic properties, and many applications. We show that $LH_n$ has analogues of several of these properties. In particular we %introduce consider a class of local (tensor space/functor) representations of the braid group derived from a meld of the (non-functor) Burau representation and the (functor) Deguchi {\em et al}-Kauffman--Saleur-Rittenberg representations here called Burau-Rittenberg representations. In its most supersymmetric case somewhat mystical cancellations of anomalies occur so that the Burau-Rittenberg representation extends to a loop Burau-Rittenberg representation. And this factors through $LH_n$. Let $SP_n$ denote the corresponding quotient algebra, $k$ the ground ring, and $t \in k$ the loop-Hecke parameter. We prove the following: 1) $LH_n$ is finite dimensional over a field. 2) The natural inclusion $LB_n \rightarrow LB_{n+1}$ passes to an inclusion $SP_n \rightarrow SP_{n+1}$. 3) Over $k=\mathbb{C}$, $SP_n / rad $ is generically the sum of simple matrix algebras of dimension (and Bratteli diagram) given by Pascal's triangle. 4) We determine the other fundamental invariants of $SP_n$ representation theory: the Cartan decomposition matrix; and the quiver, which is of type-A. 5) The structure of $SP_n $ is independent of the parameter $t$, except for $t= 1$. \item For $t^2 \neq 1$ then $LH_n \cong SP_n$ at least up to rank$n=7$ (for $t=-1$ they are not isomorphic for $n>2$; for $t=1$ they are not isomorphic for $n>1$). Finally we discuss a number of other intriguing points arising from this construction in topology, representation theory and combinatorics.

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arXiv2020

Braided zesting and its applications

We give a rigorous development of the construction of new braided fusion categories from a given category known as zesting. This method has been used in the past to provide categorifications of new fusion rule algebras, modular data, and minimal modular extensions of super-modular categories. Here we provide a complete obstruction theory and parameterization approach to the construction and illustrate its utility with several examples.

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arXiv2020

Symplectic level-rank duality via tensor categories

We give two proofs of a level-rank duality for braided fusion categories obtained from quantum groups of type $C$ at roots of unity. The first proof uses conformal embeddings, while the second uses a classification of braided fusion categories associated with quantum groups of type $C$ at roots of unity. In addition we give a similar result for non-unitary braided fusion categories quantum groups of types $B$ and $C$ at odd roots of unity.

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