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In this paper, we present a homotopical framework for studying invertible gapped phases of matter from the point of view of infinite spin lattice systems, using the framework of algebraic quantum mechanics. We define the notion of quantum state types. These are certain lax-monoidal functors from the category of finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces to the category of topological spaces. The universal example takes a finite-dimensional Hilbert space [Formula: see text] to the pure state space of the quasi-local algebra of the quantum spin system with Hilbert space [Formula: see text] at each site of a specified lattice. The lax-monoidal structure encodes the tensor product of states, which corresponds to stacking for quantum systems. We then explain how to formally extract parametrized phases of matter from quantum state types, and how they naturally give rise to [Formula: see text]-spaces for an operad we call the “multiplicative” linear isometry operad. We define the notion of invertible quantum state types and explain how the passage to phases for these is related to group completion. We also explain how invertible quantum state types give rise to loop-spectra. Our motivation is to provide a framework for constructing Kitaev’s loop-spectrum of bosonic invertible gapped phases of matter. Finally, as a first step toward understanding the homotopy types of the loop-spectra associated to invertible quantum state types, we prove that the pure state space of any UHF algebra is simply connected. 

This paper is concerned with the physics of parametrized gapped quantum many-body systems, which can be viewed as a generalization of conventional topological phases of matter. In such systems, rather than considering a single Hamiltonian, one considers a family of Hamiltonians that depend continuously on some parameters. After discussing the notion of phases of parametrized systems, we formulate a bulk-boundary correspondence for an important bulk quantity, the Kapustin-Spodyneiko higher Berry curvature, first in one spatial dimension and then in arbitrary dimension. This clarifies the physical interpretation of the higher Berry curvature, which in one spatial dimension is a flow of (ordinary) Berry curvature. In 𝑑 dimensions, the higher Berry curvature is a flow of (𝑑−1)-dimensional higher Berry curvature. Based on this, we discuss one-dimensional systems that pump Chern number to/from spatial boundaries, resulting in anomalous boundary modes featuring isolated Weyl points. In higher dimensions, there are pumps of the analogous quantized invariants obtained by integrating the higher Berry curvature. We also discuss the consequences for parametrized systems of Kitaev's proposal that invertible phases are classified by a generalized cohomology theory, and emphasize the role of the suspension isomorphism in generating new examples of parametrized systems from known invertible phases. Finally, we present a pair of general quantum pumping constructions, based on physical pictures introduced by Kitaev, which take as input a 𝑑-dimensional parametrized system, and produce new (𝑑+1)-dimensional parametrized systems. These constructions are useful for generating examples, and we conjecture that one of the constructions realizes the suspension isomorphism in a generalized cohomology theory of invertible phases. 

We consider how the outputs of the Kadison transitivity theorem and Gelfand–Naimark–Segal (GNS) construction may be obtained in families when the initial data are varied. More precisely, for the Kadison transitivity theorem, we prove that for any nonzero irreducible representation [Formula: see text] of a [Formula: see text]-algebra [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], there exists a continuous function [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the set of pairs of [Formula: see text]-tuples [Formula: see text] such that the components of [Formula: see text] are linearly independent. Versions of this result where [Formula: see text] maps into the self-adjoint or unitary elements of [Formula: see text] are also presented. Regarding the GNS construction, we prove that given a topological [Formula: see text]-algebra fiber bundle [Formula: see text], one may construct a topological fiber bundle [Formula: see text] whose fiber over [Formula: see text] is the space of pure states of [Formula: see text] (with the norm topology), as well as bundles [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] whose fibers [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] are the GNS Hilbert space and closed left ideal, respectively, corresponding to [Formula: see text]. When [Formula: see text] is a smooth fiber bundle, we show that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are also smooth fiber bundles; this involves proving that the group of ∗-automorphisms of a [Formula: see text]-algebra is a Banach Lie group. In service of these results, we review the topology and geometry of the pure state space. A simple non-interacting quantum spin system is provided as an example illustrating the physical meaning of some of these results. 

Abstract Quantum spin systems such as magnetic insulators usually show magnetic order, but such classical states can give way toquantum liquids with exotic entanglementthrough two known mechanisms of frustration: geometric frustration in lattices with triangle motifs, and spin-orbit-coupling frustration in the exactly solvable quantum liquid of Kitaev’s honeycomb lattice. Here we present the experimental observation of a new kind of frustrated quantum liquid arising in an unlikely place: the magnetic insulator Ba₄Ir₃O₁₀where Ir₃O₁₂trimers form an unfrustrated square lattice. The crystal structure shows no apparent spin chains. Experimentally we find a quantum liquid state persisting down to 0.2 K that is stabilized by strong antiferromagnetic interaction with Curie–Weiss temperature ranging from −766 to −169 K due to magnetic anisotropy. The anisotropy-averaged frustration parameter is 2000, seldom seen in iridates. Heat capacity and thermal conductivity are both linear at low temperatures, a familiar feature in metals but here in an insulator pointing to an exotic quantum liquid state; a mere 2% Sr substitution for Ba produces long-range order at 130 K and destroys the linear-T features. Although the Ir⁴⁺(5d⁵) ions in Ba₄Ir₃O₁₀appear to form Ir₃O₁₂trimers of face-sharing IrO₆octahedra, we propose that intra-trimer exchange is reduced and the lattice recombines into an array of coupled 1D chains with additional spins. An extreme limit of decoupled 1D chains can explain most but not all of the striking experimental observations, indicating that the inter-chain coupling plays an important role in the frustration mechanism leading to this quantum liquid.