Abstract
Steven H. Simon (University of Oxford, United Kingdom)
Chainmail : The geometry of Topological Lattice Models.
We reconsider Levin-Wen lattice models from a geometric standpoint. Mapping the problem to a geometric construction known as "chainmail" we make an explicit connection between these models and the Turaev-Viro invariant. This framework allows us to explore properties of the Levin-Wen models in a new (and hopefully clearer) light. Our formalism admits a generalization of Levin-Wen models to any planar lattice geometry, and renders the topological invariance manifest. Extension to 3+1 dimensions is vaguely discussed.