nLab Levin-Wen model

Idea

The Levin-Wen model is a model (in theoretical physics) for certain phenomena in 2-dimensional solid state physics. It can be regarded as a 3d TQFT.

Related concepts

• The 4d TQFT analog of the Levin-Wen model is the Walker-Wang model.

• topological order

References

The original article is

• Michael Levin, Xiao-Gang Wen, String-net condensation: A physical mechanism for topological phases, Phys.Rev. B 71 (2005) 045110 $[$arXiv:cond-mat/0404617$]$

A discussion of the Levin-Wen model as an extended 3d TQFT formulated using tensor categories is in

• Alexei Kitaev, Liang Kong, Levin-Wen models and tensor categories (pdf)