Classification of Topological Defects in Abelian Topological States

Abstract: In this paper we propose the most general classification of point-like and line-like extrinsic topological defects in (2+1)-dimensional Abelian topological states. We first map generic extrinsic defects to boundary defects, and then provide a classification of the latter. Based on this classification, the most generic point defects can be understood as domain walls between topologically distinct boundary regions. We show that topologically distinct boundaries can themselves be classified by certain maximal subgroups of mutually bosonic quasiparticles, called Lagrangian subgroups. We study the topological properties of the point defects, including their quantum dimension, localized zero modes, and projective braiding statistics.