Defects as Functors Between Phases of Abelian Gauged Linear Sigma Models

Explore the construction of defects as functors between phases of Abelian gauged linear sigma models in this 57-minute conference talk from Harvard CMSA's Workshop on Quantum Field Theory and Topological Phases via Homotopy Theory and Operator Algebras. Learn how defects act naturally on boundary conditions to provide functors between D-brane categories, with particular focus on their application in gauged linear sigma models where they enable the transport of branes from one phase to another. Discover explicit construction methods for such defects through detailed mathematical exposition and theoretical framework development. The presentation demonstrates the intersection of quantum field theory, algebraic topology, and string theory, showing how defect structures can bridge different phases within the same theoretical framework.