title: A short guide to topological terms in the effective theories of condensed matter.
abstract: This article is meant as a gentle introduction to the topological terms that often play a decisive role in effective theories describing topological quantum effects in condensed matter systems. We first take up several prominent examples, mainly from the area of quantum magnetism and superfluids/superconductors. We then briefly discuss how these ideas are now finding incarnations in the studies of symmetry-protected topological phases, which are in a sense a generalization of the concept of topological insulators to a wider range of materials, including magnets and cold atoms.
authors.affiliation: Computational Materials Science Unit, National Institute for Materials Science, Namiki 1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Computational Materials Science Unit, National Institute for Materials Science, Namiki 1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takayoshi
keywords: effective action; quantum magnetism; superfluids; symmetry-protected topological phases; topological terms