String-Net Models: A Wide-class of Exactly Solvable Discrete Models for 2D Topological Phase of Quantum Matter

In this talk, I will give an introduction to the string-net models as a wide-class of exactly solvable discrete models for 2D topological phases of quantum matter, as well as a summary of the conceptual progresses in formalism extension and the computational results for physical properties from my research group at University of Utah and collaborators.