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Symmetries and Strings in Field Theory and Gravity
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abstract
We discuss aspects of global and gauged symmetries in quantum field theory and quantum gravity, focusing on discrete gauge symmetries. An effective Lagrangian description of $\Z_p$ gauge theories shows that they are associated with an emergent $\Z_p$ one-form (Kalb-Ramond) gauge symmetry. This understanding leads us to uncover new observables and new phenomena in nonlinear $\sigma$-models. It also allows us to expand on Polchinski's classification of cosmic strings. We argue that in models of quantum gravity, there are no global symmetries, all continuous gauge symmetries are compact, and all charges allowed by Dirac quantization are present in the spectrum. These conjectures are not new, but we present them from a streamlined and unified perspective. Finally, our discussion about string charges and symmetries leads to a more physical and more complete understanding of recently found consistency conditions of supergravity.
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Showing 60 of 66 Pith papers that cite this
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Big Axions
Big axions are axion models from collective spontaneous breaking of a delocalized network of U(1) symmetries that realize high-quality accidental global symmetries, solve the strong CP problem, and may explain dark matter.
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A Partially Massless Superconductor
A covariant Higgs mechanism turns the partially massless graviton into a fully massive spin-2 field by condensing a fractonic matter field with dipole symmetry.
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(Super)$\,$Gravity from Positivity
Positivity of scattering amplitudes forces weakly coupled EFTs of a massive spin-3/2 particle to include gravity, and for charged states a gauged photon with g=2 and WGC-saturating charge.
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The AdS/$\mathsf{C}$-$\mathsf{P}$-${\mathsf T}$ Correspondence
N=4 super Yang-Mills has P and T symmetries that mix with CP and CT under S-duality, and these map to specific worldsheet and geometric symmetries of Type IIB string theory.
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Non-Invertible Duality Defects in 3+1 Dimensions
Constructs non-invertible duality defects for one-form symmetries in 3+1D by partial gauging, derives fusion rules, proves incompatibility with trivial gapped phases, and realizes explicitly in Maxwell theory and latt...
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The fermion sector of the SMEFT from asymptotically safe gravity
In a toy model of one quark generation, asymptotically safe gravity predicts four-fermion SMEFT coefficients are either Planck-scale suppressed or zero, with exceptions only at very large gravitational coupling.
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An Intermediate Scale R-axion \& the QCD Axion
A mixed F- and D-term uplift in supergravity evades the Planckian lower bound on the R-axion decay constant, allowing it to be the QCD axion and dark matter.
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Quark-Lepton Color-Flavor Unification
An SU(12)-based model unifies quark color-flavor and lepton flavor, generates Yukawas via instantons, solves strong CP with massless quarks, implements a flavored seesaw, and stabilizes the proton via a discrete gauge...
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Anomaly-Free Spectra, Unimodular Lattices and 6D R-Symmetry Gauged Supergravity
Eleven new anomaly-free 6D supergravity spectra with G_non-Abelian × U(1)_R are exhibited that satisfy Green-Schwarz factorization and global consistency conditions, together with lattice-embeddability theorems for th...
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de Sitter Vacua & pUniverses
The p-Schwinger model on de Sitter space supports p distinct de Sitter-invariant vacua that are Hadamard, and coupling a multi-flavor version to gravity yields a semiclassical de Sitter saddle at large N_f.
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All $2D$ generalised dilaton theories from $d\geq 4$ gravities
Generic 2D Horndeski theories arise from dimensional reduction of d≥4 gravities, yielding a Birkhoff theorem for quasi-topological gravities where static spherically symmetric solutions satisfy g_tt g_rr = -1 and are ...
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Proliferation transitions from a topological phase in $2+1$ dimensions
A general 2+1d transition theory out of a topological phase, driven by one Abelian anyon, is constructed and shown to depend on a single integer parameter, with p=0 giving gauging.
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The absence of global anomalies of CP symmetry
Gauged CP symmetry in four dimensions introduces no new global anomalies for connected, simply-connected gauge groups; the standard model matter content is anomaly-free under a gauged CP.
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Disjoint additivity and local quantum physics
Local quantum systems should obey disjoint additivity plus Haag duality, a combination that survives higher-form symmetries and fails for known nonlocal constructions.
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Global anomalies in $6D$ gauged supergravities
New anomaly-free six-dimensional R-symmetry gauged supergravities are presented, and global anomaly freedom is shown to impose the constraints n_V ≡ 8 mod 12 (U(1)_R) and n_V = 60 (Sp(1)_R).
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Renormalization group flows in area-metric gravity
The first renormalization group analysis of area-metric gravity shows shape-mismatching masses grow toward the infrared, parity is not emergent, and the Immirzi parameter flow has fixed points at γ=0 and γ=∞.
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Cobordism Utopia: U-Dualities, Bordisms, and the Swampland
For 8d maximal supergravity, the spin bordism groups Omega_k^Spin(B(SL(2,Z) x SL(3,Z))) for k=1..7 are computed and each generator is realized by a string/M/F-theory background, some of which are non-geometric.
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Asymptotics of 5d Supergravity Theories and the Emergent String Conjecture
All infinite distance limits in 5d N=1 supergravity vector moduli space are either unique-vector limits (6d decompactification) or unique-tensor limits (emergent string), under a weak BPS completeness assumption.
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SymTFTs and Non-Invertible Symmetries of 6d (2,0) SCFTs of Type $D$ from M-theory
The 7d SymTFT for 6d (2,0) D_N SCFTs is derived from M-theory on AdS7 × RP4, including the outer-automorphism Z2 sector, and is used to derive non-invertible symmetries and anomaly polynomials.
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Revisiting Scattering Enhancement from the Aharonov-Bohm Effect
The paper claims that with the correct multi-valued boundary conditions, the differential cross-section for charged particles scattering off an Aharonov-Bohm cosmic string is zero, eliminating the proposed baryogenesi...
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Higher Gauging and Non-invertible Condensation Defects
Higher gauging of 1-form symmetries on surfaces in 2+1d QFT yields condensation defects whose fusion rules involve 1+1d TQFTs and realizes every 0-form symmetry in TQFTs.
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Approximate Symmetries and Gravity
The authors propose a 'Swampland Symmetry Conjecture' requiring local symmetry-violating operators to act faster than thermal black holes, and show that the Weak Gravity Conjecture typically enforces this bound in gau...
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Revisiting wormhole-induced global symmetry breaking
Ensemble averaging over wormhole α-parameters is dominated by the symmetric point α=0 for spontaneously broken U(1) p-form symmetries, so standard PQ models evade the wormhole-induced axion quality problem.
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Natural Phantom Crossing from Axion-WIMP Interactions
A Z_N-symmetric WIMP sector stores the initial axion value in its relic distribution and later generates a finite-density axion potential, producing an apparent late-time phantom crossing without ghosts.
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Axion isocurvature and the model-building problem of low-scale inflation
A light pre-inflationary QCD axion that is all the dark matter forces the inflationary Hubble scale below ~10^7–10^10 GeV and, for canonical slow-roll inflation, confines the inflaton to sub-10^-4 M_Pl of field motion...
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Wormholes as red herrings: reflection positivity and the reconstruction of unitary quantum field theories
Unitary QFTs are determined up to unitary isomorphism by closed-manifold partition functions; every reflection-positive partition function comes from a unitary QFT, so spatial wormholes do not break Hilbert-space fact...
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Understanding Color Confinement through Quantum Reference Frames and Relational Observables
Color confinement arises from the lack of a global color QRF supporting isolated non-singlet relational observables, with consistency checks in lower-dimensional models.
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Conserved charges and $L_\infty$ algebras
A formula for conserved charges expressed solely via L_infinity algebra data for arbitrary Lagrangian theories, shown to recover the Brown-York surface charge in GR.
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Non-invertible symmetries in the axiverse, and the imaginary wormholes
Imaginary wormholes and the IDB imply that towers of BPS EFT instantons generate infinitely many superpotential terms that break non-invertible axion shift symmetries in N=1 axiverse models.
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Neutrino Dipole Moments and Radiative Signatures from Partial Compositeness
Partial compositeness with inverse seesaw yields neutrino dipole moments of 10^{-6} to 10^{-8} GeV^{-1} and predicts single- and multi-photon radiative signals at MiniBooNE and MINERvA.
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On BPS Branes
The paper defines cones C_BPS-B and C_BPS-BB for BPS branes in supergravity and conjectures that states in C_BPS-BB are realized as BPS states with C_BPS-B as their electric-magnetic dual when moduli-independent.
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EFTs with Symmetric Moduli Spaces: the Landscape and the Swampland
Using weight polytopes of irreducible representations, a finite list of symmetric moduli spaces satisfies the SDC decay rates; most embed from an E8(8) EFT but three cannot be obtained from string or M-theory compacti...
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The Equivalence Principle at High Energies Completes the Spectrum
Tree-level gravitational scattering under the equivalence principle mandates single-particle states in all irreducible representations constructible from a single seed charge, with equal interaction strengths.
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Uniqueness of D=8 minimal supergravity with two vector multiplets
Under a duality symmetry assumption, minimal supergravity coupled to two vector multiplets in D=8 is uniquely fixed in the BPS sector by anomaly cancellation, uplifts, and gauge enhancement.
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A missing link: Brane networks and the Cobordism Conjecture
Defects tied to discrete symmetries via bordism groups Ω^ξ_2(BG) and homology H_2(BG;Z) are codimension-two branes that participate in networks with junctions, expanding the Cobordism Conjecture's predictions in strin...
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Bordisms between 9d type IIB supergravities and commutator widths of duality groups
Proposes a refinement of the Swampland Cobordism Conjecture for Ω1(BG) with duality bundle G, where diverging commutator width of G requires infinitely many duality defects to realize monodromies via gravitational solitons.
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String probes, simple currents, and the no global symmetries conjecture
Chiral simple current extensions on the worldsheet reproduce and generalize obstructions to gauging center one-form symmetries in 6d and 8d string compactifications while clarifying BPS particle requirements upon circ...
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A Matrix Theory Construction of the IIA/IIB Wall
A lightlike IIA/IIB domain wall is constructed at zero string coupling by gauging (−1)^{F_L} in matrix string theory, turning BPS IIA D0-branes into non-BPS IIB D0-branes.
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Discrete Approximations to $\operatorname{U}(1)$ Principal Bundles in Abelian Gauge Theory
A new discretized Abelian gauge theory T_k is constructed so that as k→∞ it recovers the monopoleless sector of Maxwell theory, unlike naive Z_k gauge theory, which becomes flat Maxwell theory.
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Completeness from Gravitational Scattering
Symmetry plus perturbative gravitational scattering consistency requires the abelian charge lattice to be completely populated by single-particle states for SU(N) with N≥3 and SO(N) with N≥5.
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Towards theory constraints on ultralight dark matter from quantum gravity
In asymptotically safe gravity, dimension-five couplings of ultralight scalar dark matter to gauge field strengths vanish and are not generated perturbatively.
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First Constraint on Axion-Photon Coupling $g_{\gamma}$ from Neutron Star Observations
The paper derives a first bound on the dimensionless axion-photon coupling gγ from pulsar polarization data, reporting |gγ|<0.93 at 1σ for axion masses below 10^-11 eV, via a neutron-star-induced axion field.
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On the Physics of Higher Condensation Defects
Topological defects from higher gauging are shown, via explicit Lagrangian computations, to satisfy the Karoubi completeness condition of Johnson-Freyd's higher fusion categories, and this is identified with splitting...
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Relative Quantum Gravity: Localized Gravity and the Swampland
Localized gravity theories can violate swampland constraints, but satisfy them when defined relative to a higher-dimensional gravity completion, dubbed relative quantum gravity.
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Anomaly Inflow and Gauge Group Topology in the 10d Sugimoto String Theory
Anomaly inflow on Sugimoto model branes supports the conclusion that the 10d gauge group is Sp(16)/Z2, and the same inflow matching rules out most alternative chiral spectra.
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How to Falsify String Theory at a Collider
Detection of an isolated SU(2)_L n-plet with n≥5 would falsify known string constructions; current LHC limits exclude such states up to 400-735 GeV depending on n.
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Black $p$-Branes in Heterotic String Theory
Numerical black brane solutions for the 0-brane and 4-brane of heterotic string theory are constructed, connecting linear-dilaton throats to asymptotically flat space, with the known 6-brane solution reproduced as a check.
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Using $\Delta N_{\rm eff}$ to constrain preferred axion model dark matter
In preferred axion models with slow heavy-quark decays, axions produced after decoupling form dark radiation that can exceed Planck's ΔNeff bound, excluding much of the parameter space of models D and E.
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SymTFTs for $U(1)$ symmetries from descent
Symmetry descent is extended from discrete to continuous U(1) higher-form symmetries, yielding SymTFTs that match the Antinucci-Benini and Brennan-Sun constructions.
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Morse-Bott inequalities, Topology Change and Cobordisms to Nothing
Morse-Bott inequalities yield homology bounds and topology-change counts for generic cobordisms to nothing in string theory compactifications.
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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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M2-branes, Higher Form Symmetries and 1-Gerbes
A torsion gerbe on the M2-brane worldvolume cancels a mixed higher-form anomaly, breaking U(1) symmetries to discrete subgroups and imposing a worldvolume flux condition.
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Brane Symmetries Revisited: Symmetries of Tensile and Tensionless Branes in Possibly Degenerate Metrics and their Manifestations
Tensionless p-branes and branes in degenerate-metric spacetimes admit symmetry transformations built from Killing tensors of arbitrary rank, extending string W-symmetries to all brane dimensions.
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New analytic solutions of non-SUSY black branes in $10$-D heterotic supergravity and the phase transition
New exact non-SUSY black brane solutions in 10D heterotic supergravity with two gauge charges show a spontaneous symmetry breaking and dynamical instability at low temperature that predicts additional black hole solutions.
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Bounds on Discrete Gauge Symmetries in Supergravity
Upper bounds are placed on the order of enhanced discrete gauge symmetries in supersymmetric supergravity theories with 8 or more supercharges, with some bounds saturated by string theory examples.
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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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Landau theory for lattice higher gauge theory and Kramers-Wannier duality
Lattice higher gauge theories are rewritten as Landau field theories on closed surfaces, yielding a unified phase description and an infrared duality between higher-form Landau theories.
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Supersymmetric Hybrid Inflation with K\"{a}hler-Induced $\mathbf{R}$-Symmetry Breaking
Nonrenormalizable R-symmetry breaking in the Kahler potential can tune the spectral index of supersymmetric hybrid inflation into the ACT DR6 window while keeping tensor modes below 1e-5.
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Black Holes and Baryon Number Violation: Unveiling the Origins of Early Galaxies and the Low-Mass Gap
The authors argue that near a black hole horizon the gravitational field flattens the Higgs potential, removing the sphaleron barrier, and that the resulting baryon generation can explain early massive galaxies and th...
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Serendipitous supersymmetric solution to the strong CP problem
Anomaly-free discrete R-symmetries plus Kim-Nilles regeneration of the mu term force an accidental U(1)_PQ whose spontaneous breaking yields a SUSY DFSZ axion that solves strong CP.
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