The unconstrained frame-like formulation of an infinite tower of completely symmetric tensor gauge fields is reviewed and examined in the limit where the cosmological constant goes to zero. By partially fixing the gauge and solving the torsion constraints, the form of the gauge transformations in the unconstrained metric-like formulation are obtained till first order in a weak field expansion. The algebra of the corresponding gauge symmetries is shown to be equivalent, at this order and modulo (unphysical) gauge parameter redefinitions, to the Lie algebra of Hermitian differential operators on R^n, the restriction of which to the spin-two sector is the Lie algebra of infinitesimal diffeomorphisms.
We study the regularization ambiguities in an exact renormalized (1+1)-dimensional field theory. We show a relation between the regularization ambiguities and the coupling parameters of the theory as well as their role in the implementation of a local gauge symmetry at quantum level.
Recently, the superconformal index for a class of 5-dimensional superconformal quantum field theories with gauge group SU(2) and $N_f$ flavors was computed in Kim, Kim, and Lee (2012) to a few low orders in the chemical potential and enhancement of the global symmetry to $E_{N_f+1}$ was confirmed to this low order. In this note I provide an argument that the information contained in these few low order terms in the expansion of the index is sufficient to prove the enhancement of global symmetries in the theories. So, in particular the expression for the indices must display the enhancement to …
We discuss the relationship between target space modular invariance and discrete gauge symmetries in four-dimensional orbifold-like strings. First we derive the modular transformation properties of various string vertex operators of the massless string fields. Then we find that for supersymmetric compactifications the action of the duality elements, leaving invariant the multicritical points, corresponds to a combination of finite Kähler and gauge transformations. However, those finite gauge transformations are not elements of a remnant discrete gauge symmetry. We suggest that, at least in the…
We study the compatibility between the conformal symmetry together with the unitarity and the continuous higher-form symmetries. We show that the d-dimensional unitary conformal field theories are not consistent with continuous p-form symmetries for certain (d,p), assuming that the corresponding conserved current is a conformal primary operator. We further discuss several dynamical applications of this constraint.
We analyze in detail the global symmetries of various (2+1)d quantum field theories and couple them to classical background gauge fields. A proper identification of the global symmetries allows us to consider all non-trivial bundles of those background fields, thus finding more subtle observables. The global symmetries exhibit interesting 't Hooft anomalies. These allow us to constrain the IR behavior of the theories and provide powerful constraints on conjectured dualities.
In this note, we comment on Calabi-Yau spaces with Hodge numbers $h_{1,1}=3$ and $h_{2,1}=243$. We focus on the Calabi-Yau space $WP_{1,1,2,8,12}(24)$ and show how some of its instanton numbers are related to coefficients of certain modular forms. We also comment on the relation of four dimensional exchange symmetries in certain $N=2$ dual models to six dimensional heterotic/heterotic string duality.
In view of a raging controversy on the topic of dual-Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (dual-BRST/co-BRST) and anti-co-BRST symmetry transformations in the context of four (3+1)-dimensional (4D) Abelian 2-form and 2D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, we attempt, in our present short note, to settle the dust by taking the help of mathematics of differential geometry, connected with the Hodge theory, which was the original motivation for the nomenclature of "dual-BRST symmetry" in our earlier set of works. It has been claimed, in a recent set of papers, that the co-BRST symmetries are not independent…
For the SU(3) system of graphs generalizing the ADE Dynkin digrams in the classification of modular invariant partition functions in CFT, we present a general collection of algebraic objects and relations that describe fusion properties and quantum symmetries associated with the corresponding Ocneanu quantum groupoïds. We also summarize the properties of the individual members of this system.
We show that the recent results of \ [Int. J. Mod. Phys. D 25 (2016) 1650051] on the application of Lie/Noether symmetries in scalar field cosmology are well-known in the literature while the problem could have been solved easily under a coordinate transformation. That follows from the property, that the admitted group of invariant transformations of dynamical system is independent on the coordinate system.
We argue that the conclusion about the invalidity of the Dirac conjecture, made in the paper by Wang, Li, and Wang (Int. J. Theor. Phys. 48 1894, 2009), was based upon a flawed analysis of the proposed counterexamples. In the case of the Maxwell theory, the well-known gauge symmetry is contradicted by the results in the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian approaches presented by the authors. We also consider the oldest counterexample to the Dirac conjecture due to Allcock and present its natural parametrization.
Two dimensional light cone world sheet massive models can be used to define good string backgrounds.In many cases these light cone world sheet lagrangians flow from a CFT in the UV to a theory of massive particles in the IR. The relevant symmetry in the IR, playing a similar role to Virasoro in the UV, are quantum affine Kac Moody algebras. Finite dimensional irreps of this algebra are associated with the spectrum of massive particles. The case of N=0 Sine Gordon at the N=2 point is associated with a Landau Ginzburg model that defines a good string background. For the world sheet symmetry $(N=…
The exhaustive study of the rigid symmetries of arbitrary free field theories is motivated, along several lines, as a preliminary step in the completion of the higher-spin interaction problem in full generality. Some results for the simplest example (a scalar field) are reviewed and commented along these lines.
We investigate the hidden symmetries of the Kerr-Newman, of the D=5 minimal gauged supergravity which admits a Killing-Maxwell system in the sense of Carter and of higher dimensional spacetimes in the presence of Killing-Yano torsion. We note that when an electromagnetic tensor is present and an associated Killing-Maxwell system can be constructed in the sense of Carter, the Killing- Maxwell field becomes a PCKY (primary conformal Killing-Yano) tensor or a PGCKY (primary generalized conformal Killing-Yano) tensor, the latter in the presence of torsion. We point out the structure of the Dirac-t…
We study some aspects of enhanced gauge symmetries in F-theory compactified on K3. We find open string configurations connecting various 7-branes which represent stable BPS states. In this approach we recover $D_n$ and $E_n$ gauge groups previously found from an analysis of sigularities of the moduli space of elliptically fibered K3 manifolds as well as examples of non-perturbative realizations of $A_n$ groups.
Anomalous U(1) gauge symmetries can appear both in heterotic and type I string theories. In the heterotic case we find a single anomalous U(1), while in open string theories several such symmetries can appear. Nonetheless, there is a conjectured duality symmetry that might connect these two theories. We review the properties of anomalous gauge symmetries in various string theories as well as the status of this heterotic-type I/II duality. We also comment on the possible phenomenological applications of anomalous gauge symmetries in string theory.
In recent papers arXiv:1103.3564 and arXiv:1103.3565, Gates and Koutrolikos announced the construction of new off-shell formulations for massless higher spin supermultiplets. Here we demonstrate that all of their models are obtained from (some of) those constructed in 1993 by Kuzenko, Postnikov and Sibiryakov by applying special field redefinitions.
Recently a three-dimensional field theory was derived that is consistent with all the symmetries expected of the worldvolume action for multiple M2-branes. In this note we examine several physical predictions of this model and show that they are in agreement with expected M2-brane dynamics. In particular, we discuss the quantization of the Chern-Simons coefficient, the vacuum moduli space, a massive deformation leading to fuzzy three-sphere vacua, and a possible large n limit. In this large n limit, the fuzzy funnel solution correctly reproduces the mass of an M5-brane.
We show that the ``effective Lagrangian'' constructed in [1] is inconsistent with the exact result for the complete Lagrangian presented in [2]. We trace the origin of the inconsistence to the peculiar way in which the path integral methods are used to eliminate variables that are not auxialiry.
In the light-cone closed string and toroidal membrane theories, we associate the global constraints with gauge symmetries. In the closed string case, we show that the physical states defined by the BRS charge satisfy the level-matching condition. In the toroidal membrane case, we show that the Faddeev-Popov ghost and anti-ghost corresponding to the global constraints are essentially free even if we adopt any gauge fixing condition for the local constraint. We discuss the quantum double-dimensional reduction of the wrapped supermembrane with the global constraints.
We study the leading irrelevant operators along the flat directions of certain supersymmetric theories. In particular, we focus on finite N=2 (including N=4) supersymmetric field theories in four dimensions and show that these operators are completely determined by the symmetries of the problem. This shows that they are generated only at one loop and are not renormalized beyond this order. An instanton computation in similar three dimensional theories shows that these terms are renormalized. Hence, the four dimensional non-renormalization theorem of these terms is not valid in three dimensions…
We investigate deformed superconformal symmetries on non(anti)commutative (super)spaces from the point of view of the Drinfel'd twisted symmetries. We classify all possible twist elements derived from an abelian subsector of the superconformal algebra. The symmetry breaking caused by the non(anti)commutativity of the (super)spaces is naturally interpreted as the modification of their coproduct emerging from the corresponding twist element. The remaining unbroken symmetries are determined by the commutative properties of those symmetry generators possessing the twist element. We also comment on…
Braided quantum field theories proposed by Oeckl can provide a framework for defining quantum field theories having Hopf algebra symmetries. In quantum field theories, symmetries lead to non-perturbative relations among correlation functions. We discuss Hopf algebra symmetries and such relations in braided quantum field theories. We give the four algebraic conditions between Hopf algebra symmetries and braided quantum field theories, which are required for the relations to hold. As concrete examples, we apply our discussions to the Poincare symmetries of two examples of noncommutative field th…
The non-isospectral symmetries of a general class of integrable hierarchies are found, generalizing the Galilean and scaling symmetries of the Korteweg--de Vries equation and its hierarchy. The symmetries arise in a very natural way from the semi-direct product structure of the Virasoro algebra and the affine Kac--Moody algebra underlying the construction of the hierarchy. In particular, the generators of the symmetries are shown to satisfy a subalgebra of the Virasoro algebra. When a tau-function formalism is available, the infinitesimal symmetries act directly on the tau-functions as moments…
A geometric global formulation of the higher-order Lagrangian formalism for systems with finite number of degrees of freedom is provided. The formalism is applied to the study of systems with groups of Noetherian symmetries.
Discrete (family) symmetries might play an important role in models of elementary particle physics. We discuss the origin of such symmetries in the framework of consistent ultraviolet completions of the standard model in field and string theory. The symmetries can arise due to special geometrical properties of extra compact dimensions and the localization of fields in this geometrical landscape. We also comment on anomaly constraints for discrete symmetries.
We consider the open string tachyon action in a world-sheet sigma model approach. We present explicit calculations up to order 8 in derivatives for the bosonic string, and mimic these to order 6 for the superstring, including terms with multiple derivatives acting on the tachyon field. We reproduce lower derivative terms obtained elsewhere, and speculate on the role of the world-sheet contact terms regularizing the action for the superstring tachyon.
Higher order conservation laws, associated with conserved antisymmetric tensors $j^{μ_1 ... μ_k}$ fulfilling $\partial_{μ_1} j^{μ_1 ... μ_k} \approx 0$, are shown to define rigid symmetries of the master equation. They thus lead to independent Ward identities which are explicitly derived.
We construct, as hypersurfaces in toric varieties, Calabi-Yau manifolds corresponding to F-theory vacua dual to E8*E8 heterotic strings compactified to six dimensions on K3 surfaces with non-semisimple gauge backgrounds. These vacua were studied in the recent work of Aldazabal, Font, Ibanez and Uranga. We extend their results by constructing many more examples, corresponding to enhanced gauge symmetries, by noting that they can be obtained from previously known Calabi-Yau manifolds corresponding to K3 compactification of heterotic strings with simple gauge backgrounds by means of extremal tran…
Soft theorems can be recast as Ward identities of asymptotic symmetries. We review such relation for the leading and subleading soft graviton theorems in arbitrary even dimensions. While soft theorems are trivially generalized to dimensions higher than four, the charges of asymptotic symmetries are plagued by divergences requiring a renormalization. We argue that the renormalized charges of these symmetries can be determined by rewriting soft theorems as Ward identities. In order to show that the charges of such identities generate asymptotic symmetries, we propose a suitable commutation relat…
We define a class of $A_\infty$-algebras that are obtained by deformations of higher spin symmetries. While higher spin symmetries of a free CFT form an associative algebra, the slightly broken higher spin symmetries give rise to a minimal $A_\infty$-algebra extending the associative one. These $A_\infty$-algebras are related to non-commutative deformation quantization much as the unbroken higher spin symmetries result from the conventional deformation quantization. In the case of three dimensions there is an additional parameter that the $A_\infty$-structure depends on, which is to be related…
We review a notion of completeness in QFT arising from the analysis of basic properties of the set of operator algebras attached to regions. In words, this completeness asserts that the physical observable algebras produced by local degrees of freedom are the maximal ones compatible with causality. We elaborate on equivalent statements to this completeness principle such as the non-existence of generalized symmetries and the uniqueness of the net of algebras. We clarify that for non-complete theories, the existence of generalized symmetries is unavoidable, and further, that they always come in…
We study higher-form symmetries in 5d quantum field theories, whose charged operators include extended operators such as Wilson line and 't Hooft operators. We outline criteria for the existence of higher-form symmetries both from a field theory point of view as well as from the geometric realization in M-theory on non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds. A geometric criterion for determining the higher-form symmetry from the intersection data of the Calabi-Yau is provided, and we test it in a multitude of examples, including toric geometries. We further check that the higher-form symmetry is consis…
General aspects of higher-spin gauge theory and unfolded formulation are briefly recalled with some emphasize on the recent results on the breaking of $sp(8)$ symmetry by current interactions and construction of invariant functionals relevant to the higher-spin holography.
We study higher symmetries and anomalies of 4d $\mathfrak{so}(2n_c)$ gauge theory with $2n_f$ flavors. We find that they depend on the parity of $n_c$ and $n_f$, the global form of the gauge group, and the discrete theta angle. The contribution from the fermions plays a central role in our analysis. Furthermore, our conclusion applies to $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric cases as well, and we see that higher symmetries and anomalies match across the Intriligator-Seiberg duality between $\mathfrak{so}(2n_c)\leftrightarrow\mathfrak{so}(2n_f-2n_c+4)$.
We focus in this work to renew the interest in higher conformal spins symmetries and their relations to quantum field theories and integrable models. We consider the extension of the conformal Frappat et al. symmetries containing the Virasoro and the Antoniadis et al. algebras as particular cases describing geometrically special diffeomorphisms of the two dimensional torus $T^2$. We show in a consistent way, and explicitly, how one can extract these generalized symmetries from the Gelfand-Dickey algebra. The link with Liouville and Toda conformal field theories is established and various impor…
We analyze topological mass terms of BF type arising in supersymmetric M-theory compactifications to $AdS_5$. These describe spontaneously broken higher-form gauge symmetries in the bulk. Different choices of boundary conditions for the BF terms yield dual field theories with distinct global discrete symmetries. We discuss in detail these symmetries and their 't Hooft anomalies for 4d $\mathcal N = 1$ SCFTs arising from M5-branes wrapped on a Riemann surface without punctures, including theories from M5-branes at a $\mathbb Z_2$ orbifold singularity. The anomaly polynomial is computed via infl…
It was recently argued that quantum field theories possess one-form and higher-form symmetries, labelled `generalized global symmetries.' In this paper, we describe how those higher-form symmetries can be understood mathematically as special cases of more general 2-groups and higher groups, and discuss examples of quantum field theories admitting actions of more general higher groups than merely one-form and higher-form symmetries. We discuss analogues of topological defects for some of these higher symmetry groups, relating some of them to ordinary topological defects. We also discuss topolog…
We study 3d and 4d systems with a one-form global symmetry, explore their consequences, and analyze their gauging. For simplicity, we focus on $\mathbb{Z}_N$ one-form symmetries. A 3d topological quantum field theory (TQFT) $\mathcal{T}$ with such a symmetry has $N$ special lines that generate it. The braiding of these lines and their spins are characterized by a single integer $p$ modulo $2N$. Surprisingly, if $\gcd(N,p)=1$ the TQFT factorizes $\mathcal{T}=\mathcal{T}'\otimes \mathcal{A}^{N,p}$. Here $\mathcal{T}'$ is a decoupled TQFT, whose lines are neutral under the global symmetry and $\m…
The conjectured holographic duality between vector models with quartic interaction and higher-spin field theory in the bulk is reviewed, with emphasis on some versions and generalisations (higher dimensions, beyond the singlet sector, etc) which have not been much investigated yet. The strongest form of the conjecture assumes that it holds for any (not necessarily large) number of massless scalar fields and for any value of the coupling constant. Since the quartic interaction is of double-trace type, the exact duality (for any value of the coupling constant) automatically follows from its vali…
We establish the existence of the topological vector supersymmetry in the six dimensional topological field theory for two-form fields introduced by Baulieu and West. We investigate the relation of these symmetries to the twist operation for the (2,0) supersymmetry and comment on their resemblance to the analogous symmetries in topological Yang-Mills theory.
By incorporating higher-form symmetries, we propose a refined definition of the theories obtained by compactification of the 6d $(2,0)$ theory on a three-manifold $M_3$. This generalization is applicable to both the 3d $\mathcal{N}=2$ and $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric reductions. An observable that is sensitive to the higher-form symmetries is the Witten index, which can be computed by counting solutions to a set of Bethe equations that are determined by $M_3$. This is carried out in detail for $M_3$ a Seifert manifold, where we compute a refined version of the Witten index. In the context of…
A special embedding of the SU(4) algebra in SU(10), including both spin two and spin three symmetry generators, is constructed. A possible five dimensional action for massless spin two and three fields with cubic interaction is constructed. The connection with the previously investigated higher spin theories in $AdS_{5}$ background is discussed. Generalization to the more general case of symmetries, including spins $2,3,\dots s$, is shown.
Tensionless string theory on AdS3 x S3 x T4, as captured by a free symmetric product orbifold, has a large set of conserved currents which can be usefully organised in terms of representations of a N=(4,4) supersymmetric higher spin algebra. In this paper we focus on the single particle currents which generate the asymptotic stringy symmetry algebra on AdS3, and whose wedge modes describe the unbroken gauge symmetries of string theory in this background. We show that this global subalgebra contains two distinct higher spin algebras that generate the full algebra as a `higher spin square'. The …
We discuss general properties of the theory of higher spin gauge fields in $AdS_4$ focusing on the relationship between the star-product origin of the higher spin symmetries, AdS geometry and the concept of space-time locality. A full list of conserved higher spin currents in the flat space of arbitrary dimension is presented.
We consider the simplest class of Lie-algebraic deformations of space-time algebra, with the selection of $κ$-deformations as providing quantum deformation of relativistic framework. We recall that the $κ$-deformation along any direction in Minkowski space can be obtained. Some problems of the formalism of $κ$-deformations will be considered. We shall comment on the conformal extension of light-like $κ$-deformation as well as on the applications to astrophysical problems.
We examine the large $N$ 1/4-BPS spectrum of the symmetric orbifold CFT Sym$^N(M)$ deformed to the supergravity point in moduli space for $M= K3$ and $T^4$. We consider refinement under both left- and right-moving $SU(2)_R$ symmetries of the superconformal algebra, and decompose the spectrum into characters of the algebra. We find that at large $N$ the character decomposition satisfies an unusual property, in which the degeneracy only depends on a certain linear combination of left- and right-moving quantum numbers, suggesting deeper symmetry structure. Furthermore, we consider the action of d…
In four-dimensional axion electrodynamics, a Chern-Simons coupling of the form $θF \wedge F$ leads to a higher-group global symmetry between background gauge fields. At the same time, such a Chern-Simons coupling leads to a mixing between the Weak Gravity Conjectures for the axion and the gauge field, so that the charged excitations of a Weak Gravity Conjecture-satisfying axion string will also satisfy the Weak Gravity Conjecture for the gauge field. In this paper, we argue that these higher-group symmetries and this phenomenon of Weak Gravity Conjecture mixing are related to one another. We s…
Current interaction of massless fields in four dimensions is shown to break sp (8) symmetry of free massless equations of all spins down to the conformal symmetry su (2,2). This breaking is in agreement with the form of nonlinear higher-spin field equations.
We consider high spin operators. We give a general argument for the logarithmic scaling of their anomalous dimensions which is based on the symmetries of the problem. By an analytic continuation we can also see the origin of the double logarithmic divergence in the Sudakov factor. We show that the cusp anomalous dimension is the energy density for a flux configuration of the gauge theory on $AdS_3 \times S^1$. We then focus on operators in ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang Mills which carry large spin and SO(6) charge and show that in a particular limit their properties are described in terms of a boson…
