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  How to see the ground state degeneracy (GSD) from a BF theory in 2+1 d?

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I have seen many times the BF theory has non-trivial ground state degeneracy (typically on torus), but I can not see how the conclusion come out. Recently I found a paper by Hansson, Oganesyan and Sondhi,[Superconductors are topologically ordered] in which the superconductor is described by a MaxwellBF theory. They have a section of the GCD in a BF theory in 2+1 d. But actually I still have questions to understand it. 


The BF theory in 2+1 d is given by the action
S=1πd3xϵμνσbμνaσ,(1)


where aμ and bμ are U(1) gauge fields. 
μ,ν,σ=0,x,y.


Working on 2torous, as in the section [IV.A] in Hansson's paper, the BF theory can be written in the form 
S=1πd3x[ϵij˙aibj+a0ϵijibj+b0ϵijiaj],


where ˙a=0a and i,j=x,y.  They interpret a0 and b0 are multipliers for constraints 
ϵijibj=0 and ϵijiaj=0
Upon inserting ai=iΛa+ˉai/L
and bi=iΛb+ˉbi/L
where Λa/b are periodic functions on the torus, ¯ai and ¯bi are spatially constant, L denotes the size of the system, the above BF theory reduces to
S=1πd3xϵij˙ˉaiˉbj.(2)

Then they say from the Eq.(2) one can obtain the commutation relation ( [Eq. (38)] in  their paper)
[ˉax,1πˉby]=i,[ˉay,1πˉbx]=i.(3)


Moreover, from the commutation relations Eq. (3), one can have ( [Eq. (39)] in  their paper)

AxBy+ByAx=0,AyBx+BxAy=0,(4)


where Ai=eiˉai and Bi=eiˉbi.
They claim that relations Eq. (4) indicates a 2×2=4fold GCD and "Bi can be interpreted either as measuring the b-flux or inserting an aflux."


There are several points that I don't understand.

 1. How can I get communication relations Eq. (3) from the action Eq. (2)?
 2. Why relations Eq. (4) indicate a 4fold GCD?
 3. How should I understand the statement "Bi can be interpreted either as measuring the b-flux or inserting an aflux."?

I would be very appreciate if anyone can give me some hints or suggest me some relevant references.

asked Oct 21, 2014 in Theoretical Physics by hongchan (90 points) [ revision history ]
edited Oct 21, 2014 by hongchan

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