Twisted equivariant matter (Q383510)

In quantum mechanics the pure states form the projective space \(PH\) of a complex Hibert space \(H\). The well-konw Wigner's theorem states that every symmetry that acts on pure states can be lifted to \(H\) as a unitary or antiunitary operator. Hence every symmetry group \(G\) is equipped with a homomorphism \(\varphi: G\rightarrow \pm 1\), which encodes whether a symmetry is unitary or antiunitary. Also with \(G\) a group extension us associated \[ 0\rightarrow T\rightarrow G^{\tau}\rightarrow G\rightarrow 0, \] where \(T\) is the group of scalar unitary transformations of \(H\). Typically a quantum symmetry acts on the space-time. Thus \(G\) is equipped with a homomorphism \(t: G\rightarrow \pm 1\), which encodes whether a symmetry preserves or reverses time-orientation. Denote \(c:=\varphi t\). One says that a quantum system is gapped if it's Hamiltoniam is invertible. Two gapped system are called to be in the same topological phase if there is a continious family of quantum systems that connect the considered systems. The set \(TF\) of topological phases has two algebraic structures - tensor product an direct sum. The associated abelian group is denoted as \(RTP\). The main result of the paper under review is an identification of the group \(RTF\) with the a topological \(K\)-theory group. Also in the paper some examples are discussed in details. In particular the Kane-Mele invariant and the orbital magnetolelectric polarizability are considered in this context.