Non‐semisimple Levin–Wen models and Hermitian TQFTs from quantum (super)groups

Abstract We develop the categorical context for defining Hermitian non‐semisimple topological quantum field theories (TQFTs). We prove that relative Hermitian modular categories give rise to modified Hermitian Witten–Reshetikhin–Turaev TQFTs and provide numerous examples of these structures coming from the representation theory of quantum groups and quantum superalgebras. The Hermitian theory developed here for the modified Turaev–Viro TQFT is applied to define new pseudo‐Hermitian topological phases that can be considered as non‐semisimple analogs of Levin–Wen models.