Condensed Matter Theory

Abstract:

The theory of generalized symmetries has recently clarified how twisted sectors resolve the Callan–Rubakov paradox, where scattering of a charged particle by a magnetic monopole appeared to violate conservation laws. Here we study a more general setting of wavepackets that propagate across topological interfaces in quantum spin systems exhibiting non-invertible symmetries and across duality defects coupling dual theories. In these scenarios, we find that the transmission is always perfect and a particle traversing the interface is converted into a non-local string-like excitation. We give a systematic way of constructing such a defect by identifying its Hilbert space with the virtual bond dimension of the matrix product operator representing defect lines. Our work provides a precise characterization of topological interfaces in perfect transmission phenomena and yields a lattice analogue of the solution to the monopole paradox in quantum field theory.