Many-body topological invariants for fermionic symmetry-protected topological phases

Abstract

We define and compute many-body topological invariants of interacting fermionic symmetry-protected topological phases, protected by an orientation-reversing symmetry, such as time-reversal or reflection symmetry. The topological invariants are given by partition functions obtained by a path integral on unoriented spacetime which, as we show, can be computed for a given ground state wave function by considering a non-local operation, "partial" reflection or transpose. As an application of our scheme, we study the $\mathbb{Z}_8$ and $\mathbb{Z}_{16}$ classification of topological superconductors in one and three dimensions.

New title, introduction was rewritten, discussion on the partial time-reversal was clarified, and animated illustrations for additivity of the topological invariants were included