Modulated symmetries from generalized Lieb-Schultz-Mattis anomalies

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Authors: Hiromi Ebisu, Bo Han, Weiguang Cao
Cited by: 1
References: 118

Abstract

Symmetries rigidly delimit the landscape of quantum matter. Recently uncovered spatially modulated symmetries, whose actions vary with position, enable excitations with restricted mobility, while Lieb-Schultz-Mattis (LSM) type anomalies impose sharp constraints on which lattice phases are realizable. In a one-dimensional spin chain, gauging procedures have linked modulated symmetry to LSM type anomaly, but a general understanding beyond 1D remains incomplete. We show that generalized LSM anomalies force the emergence of the modulated symmetries upon gauging. We construct explicit lattice models in two and three spatial dimensions and develop complementary field-theoretic descriptions in arbitrary spatial dimensions that connect LSM anomaly inflow to higher-group symmetry structures governing the modulated symmetries. Our results provide a unified, nonperturbative framework that ties together LSM constraints and spatially modulated symmetries across dimensions.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Topological Materials and Phenomena Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics Quantum many-body systems

Publication details

Journal / source
SciPost Physics
Publisher
Stichting SciPost
Volume
20
Issue
4
Publication date
28 April 2026
Language
EN