Abstract
We consider nonchiral symmetry-protected topological phases of matter in two spatial dimensions protected by a discrete symmetry such as or symmetry. We argue that modular invariance/noninvariance of the partition function of the one-dimensional edge theory can be used to diagnose whether, by adding a suitable potential, the edge theory can be gapped or not without breaking the symmetry. By taking bosonic phases described by Chern-Simons -matrix theories and fermionic phases relevant to topological superconductors as an example, we demonstrate explicitly that when the modular invariance is achieved, we can construct an interaction potential that is consistent with the symmetry and can completely gap out the edge state.
- Received 15 May 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.88.075125
©2013 American Physical Society