Lecture notes on 2-dimensional defect TQFT

Understand

These notes offer an introduction to the functorial and algebraic description of 2-dimensional topological quantum field theories `with defects', assuming only superficial familiarity with closed TQFTs in terms of commutative Frobenius algebras.

• The generalisation of this relation is a construction of pivotal 2-categories from defect TQFTs.
• We review this construction in detail, flanked by a range of examples.
• Furthermore we explain how open/closed TQFTs are equivalent to Calabi-Yau categories and the Cardy condition, and how to extract such data from pivotal 2-categories.