A $C^*$-Algebraic Approach to Parametrized Quantum Spin Systems and Their Phases in One Spatial Dimension

Abstract

This thesis investigates parametrized quantum spin systems in the thermodynamic limit from a $C^*$-algebraic point of view. Our main physical result is the construction of a phase invariant for one-dimensional quantum spin chains parametrized by a topological space $X$. This invariant is constructed using $C^*$-algebraic techniques and takes values in degree one \v{C}ech cohomology $H^1(X;\mathbb{P}\mathrm{U}(\mathscr{H}))$, where $\mathbb{P}\mathrm{U}(\mathscr{H})$ is the projective unitary group of an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space $\mathscr{H}$, endowed with the strong operator topology. Using Dixmier-Douady theory [Bry93, DD63, HJJS08] one may equivalently view this as an element of $H^3(X;\mathbb{Z})$. An exactly solvable model of a one-dimensional spin system parametrized by the 3-sphere $X = \mathbb{S}^3$ is presented and it is shown that its invariant is nontrivial [WQB+22]. We also prove several mathematical results on topological aspects of the pure state space $\mathscr{P}(\mathfrak{A})$ of a $C^*$-algebra $\mathfrak{A}$. We prove that $\mathscr{P}(\mathfrak{A})$, endowed with the weak* topology, has trivial fundamental group for every UHF algebra $\mathfrak{A}$ [BHM+23]. We review the results of [SMQ+22] that show how the outputs of the GNS representation and Kadison transitivity theorem can be understood to depend continuously on their inputs. These results are expanded upon with the construction of a distinguished \v{C}ech class in $H^1(\mathscr{P}(\mathfrak{A});\mathrm{U}(1))$ that generalizes the principal $\mathrm{U}(1)$-bundle $\mathbb{S} \mathscr{H} \rightarrow \mathbb{P} \mathscr{H}$ in a representation independent way, where $\mathbb{S} \mathscr{H}$ and $\mathbb{P} \mathscr{H}$ are the unit sphere and projective Hilbert space of $\mathscr{H}$. Finally, we prove a selection theorem in the vein of [SMQ+22] for the weak* topology on $\mathscr{P}(\mathfrak{A})$.