On Gauging Symmetry of Modular Categories

Understand

Topological order of a topological phase of matter in two spacial dimensions is encoded by a unitary modular (tensor) category (UMC).

• A group symmetry of the topological phase induces a group symmetry of its corresponding UMC.
• Gauging is a well-known theoretical tool to promote a global symmetry to a local gauge symmetry.
• We give a mathematical formulation of gauging in terms of higher category formalism.