Gapped boundary theories in three dimensions

Abstract

We prove a theorem in 3-dimensional topological field theory: a Reshetikhin-Turaev theory admits a nonzero boundary theory iff it is a Turaev-Viro theory. The proof immediately implies a characterization of fusion categories in terms of dualizability. The main theorem applies to physics, where it implies an obstruction to a gapped 3-dimensional quantum system admitting a gapped boundary theory. Appendices on bordism multicategories and on internal duals may be of independent interest.; v2 extensive revision: added theorem on dualizable 2-categories, material on natural transformations, reworked theorems and several proofs, and more.