First experimental observation of strong-to-weak spontaneous symmetry breaking in dephased fermionic atoms, detected via long-range Rényi order after a superlattice-driven metal-insulator transition.
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Snowmass White Paper: Generalized Symmetries in Quantum Field Theory and Beyond
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abstract
Symmetry plays a central role in quantum field theory. Recent developments include symmetries that act on defects and other subsystems, and symmetries that are categorical rather than group-like. These generalized notions of symmetry allow for new kinds of anomalies that constrain dynamics. We review some transformative instances of these novel aspects of symmetry in quantum field theory, and give a broad-brush overview of recent applications.
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New dualities in 3d TQFTs are derived via non-invertible anyon condensation, generalizing level-rank dualities and providing new presentations for parafermion theories, c=1 orbifolds, and SU(2)_N.
Ensemble averaging in low-dimensional holography is reinterpreted as averaging over topological boundary conditions in a fixed SymTFT slab, reproducing Poisson moments in the Marolf-Maxfield model and Zamolodchikov measure in the Narain case.
Generalized symmetries generate exponentially many Krylov sectors in quantum many-body systems, showing that Hilbert space fragmentation does not by itself imply ergodicity breaking.
A general prescription is formulated for spurion analysis of commutative non-invertible fusion algebras in particle physics, unifying prior specific cases and enabling systematic tracking of coupling constants in tree- and loop-level processes without requiring faithful realization or exclusive use.
A bosonic lattice model realizes exact chiral symmetry and its anomaly in 3+1d, with the continuum limit a compact boson theory with axion-like coupling.
Generalized family anomalies for broken higher-group and non-invertible symmetries constrain RG flows and IR phases of QFT families, with explicit application to deformed 4d QCD.
Giant vortex strings in 3+1D Abelian Higgs models admit essentially exact solutions that fall into sharply distinct phases in the large-n limit, determined by the form of the Higgs potential and governing their binding energies and stability.
Derives universal angle-dependent corner contributions to charge fluctuations in higher-dimensional quantum systems, with benchmarks at O(3) critical points and even-odd effects in metals.
Refines charge quantization via homotopy type A whose homotopy groups classify brane charges and homology groups classify higher-form symmetries, deriving swampland-like constraints that rule out noncompact gauge groups and non-nilpotent Lie algebras for field strengths.
The five-dimensional topological axion electrodynamics is shown to possess a 3-crossed module structure through modified Stueckelberg couplings required for background gauge invariance.
Spatially modulated symmetries arise from gauging ordinary symmetries under generalized LSM anomalies, with explicit lattice models in 2D and 3D plus field-theoretic descriptions in arbitrary dimensions that connect to higher-group structures.
Generalizes spurion analysis to non-invertible near-group fusion algebras, introduces coupling labels, and explains radiative violation of tree-level selection rules.
Derives additivity and fusion rules for defect g-functions in integrable 2D QFT, with effective amplitudes for non-topological cases and lowered entropy contribution in Ising non-topological fusion.
Non-invertible symmetry defects from 11D supergravity descend to Type IIA, splitting the Bianchi sector into invertible H[3] and twisted non-invertible F[4] parts with a BF-type auxiliary sector.
In G-theory motivated Type IIB compactifications with varying fields, End of the World branes trivialize a cohomology class and additional non-perturbative objects are required to cancel the bordism group while retaining the class as a subgroup.
Lattice realizations of topological defects in non-unitary 2D CFTs are built from modified RSOS models, yielding numerical results that match analytical predictions for spectra and RG flows.
1-form symmetries in the QED soft sector generate asymptotic charges whose central extension implies soft photon theorems and fixes a two-soft-photon contact term.
Constructs Z_N extended fusion rings and modular partition functions for nonanomalous subgroups, extending to multicomponent systems and orbifoldings in CFTs.
Field theories with ℤ_N p-form symmetry generically admit a Coulomb phase where the infrared theory is Abelian p-form electrodynamics, illustrated via continuum and lattice examples.
Authors introduce a TFT-based framework for finite topological symmetries in QFT, including gauging, condensation defects, and duality defects, with an appendix on finite homotopy theories.
A survey of non-invertible symmetries with constructions in the Ising model and applications to neutral pion decay and other systems.
Lecture notes explain non-invertible generalized symmetries in QFTs as topological defects arising from stacking with TQFTs and gauging diagonal symmetries, plus their action on charges and the SymTFT framework.
citing papers explorer
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Observation of Strong-to-Weak Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in a Dephased Fermi Gas
First experimental observation of strong-to-weak spontaneous symmetry breaking in dephased fermionic atoms, detected via long-range Rényi order after a superlattice-driven metal-insulator transition.
-
Non-Invertible Anyon Condensation and Level-Rank Dualities
New dualities in 3d TQFTs are derived via non-invertible anyon condensation, generalizing level-rank dualities and providing new presentations for parafermion theories, c=1 orbifolds, and SU(2)_N.
-
From Baby Universes to Narain Moduli: Topological Boundary Averaging in SymTFTs
Ensemble averaging in low-dimensional holography is reinterpreted as averaging over topological boundary conditions in a fixed SymTFT slab, reproducing Poisson moments in the Marolf-Maxfield model and Zamolodchikov measure in the Narain case.
-
Hilbert Space Fragmentation from Generalized Symmetries
Generalized symmetries generate exponentially many Krylov sectors in quantum many-body systems, showing that Hilbert space fragmentation does not by itself imply ergodicity breaking.
-
A General Prescription for Spurion Analysis of Non-Invertible Selection Rules
A general prescription is formulated for spurion analysis of commutative non-invertible fusion algebras in particle physics, unifying prior specific cases and enabling systematic tracking of coupling constants in tree- and loop-level processes without requiring faithful realization or exclusive use.
-
Lattice chiral symmetry from bosons in 3+1d
A bosonic lattice model realizes exact chiral symmetry and its anomaly in 3+1d, with the continuum limit a compact boson theory with axion-like coupling.
-
Generalized Families of QFTs
Generalized family anomalies for broken higher-group and non-invertible symmetries constrain RG flows and IR phases of QFT families, with explicit application to deformed 4d QCD.
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Phases of Giant Magnetic Vortex Strings
Giant vortex strings in 3+1D Abelian Higgs models admit essentially exact solutions that fall into sharply distinct phases in the large-n limit, determined by the form of the Higgs potential and governing their binding energies and stability.
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Corner Charge Fluctuations in Higher Dimensions
Derives universal angle-dependent corner contributions to charge fluctuations in higher-dimensional quantum systems, with benchmarks at O(3) critical points and even-odd effects in metals.
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Generalised Symmetries and Swampland-Type Constraints from Charge Quantisation via Rational Homotopy Theory
Refines charge quantization via homotopy type A whose homotopy groups classify brane charges and homology groups classify higher-form symmetries, deriving swampland-like constraints that rule out noncompact gauge groups and non-nilpotent Lie algebras for field strengths.
-
3-Crossed Module Structure in the Five-Dimensional Topological Axion Electrodynamics
The five-dimensional topological axion electrodynamics is shown to possess a 3-crossed module structure through modified Stueckelberg couplings required for background gauge invariance.
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Modulated symmetries from generalized Lieb-Schultz-Mattis anomalies
Spatially modulated symmetries arise from gauging ordinary symmetries under generalized LSM anomalies, with explicit lattice models in 2D and 3D plus field-theoretic descriptions in arbitrary dimensions that connect to higher-group structures.
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Spurion Analysis for Non-Invertible Selection Rules from Near-Group Fusions
Generalizes spurion analysis to non-invertible near-group fusion algebras, introduces coupling labels, and explains radiative violation of tree-level selection rules.
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Fusion of Integrable Defects and the Defect $g$-Function
Derives additivity and fusion rules for defect g-functions in integrable 2D QFT, with effective amplitudes for non-topological cases and lowered entropy contribution in Ising non-topological fusion.
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Non-Invertible Symmetries in Compactified Supergravities
Non-invertible symmetry defects from 11D supergravity descend to Type IIA, splitting the Bianchi sector into invertible H[3] and twisted non-invertible F[4] parts with a BF-type auxiliary sector.
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Double fibration in G-theory and the cobordism conjecture
In G-theory motivated Type IIB compactifications with varying fields, End of the World branes trivialize a cohomology class and additional non-perturbative objects are required to cancel the bordism group while retaining the class as a subgroup.
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Lattice Topological Defects in Non-Unitary Conformal Field Theories
Lattice realizations of topological defects in non-unitary 2D CFTs are built from modified RSOS models, yielding numerical results that match analytical predictions for spectra and RG flows.
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Comments on Symmetry Operators, Asymptotic Charges and Soft Theorems
1-form symmetries in the QED soft sector generate asymptotic charges whose central extension implies soft photon theorems and fixes a two-soft-photon contact term.
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Extending fusion rules with finite subgroups: A general construction of $Z_{N}$ extended conformal field theories and their orbifoldings
Constructs Z_N extended fusion rings and modular partition functions for nonanomalous subgroups, extending to multicomponent systems and orbifoldings in CFTs.
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Discrete $p$-Form Symmetry and Higher Coulomb Phases
Field theories with ℤ_N p-form symmetry generically admit a Coulomb phase where the infrared theory is Abelian p-form electrodynamics, illustrated via continuum and lattice examples.
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Topological symmetry in quantum field theory
Authors introduce a TFT-based framework for finite topological symmetries in QFT, including gauging, condensation defects, and duality defects, with an appendix on finite homotopy theories.
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What's Done Cannot Be Undone: TASI Lectures on Non-Invertible Symmetries
A survey of non-invertible symmetries with constructions in the Ising model and applications to neutral pion decay and other systems.
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ICTP Lectures on (Non-)Invertible Generalized Symmetries
Lecture notes explain non-invertible generalized symmetries in QFTs as topological defects arising from stacking with TQFTs and gauging diagonal symmetries, plus their action on charges and the SymTFT framework.
- Characterizing gapped phases by smeared boundary conformal field theories: Duality in unusual ordering with spontaneously broken generalized symmetries