28 Feb 2025 | Andrea Antinucci and Francesco Benini
The paper proposes a Symmetry TFT for theories with a continuous $ U(1) $ symmetry in arbitrary dimensions. This TFT describes the structure of the symmetry, its anomalies, and possible topological manipulations. It is constructed as a BF theory of gauge fields for groups $ U(1) $ and $ R $, containing a continuum of topological operators. The authors also propose an operation that produces the Symmetry TFT for the theory obtained by dynamically gauging the $ U(1) $ symmetry. They discuss various examples, including the Symmetry TFT for the non-invertible $ Q/Z $ chiral symmetry in four dimensions.
The Symmetry TFT is a nontrivial $ (d+1) $-dimensional TQFT placed on a slab with two parallel boundaries. One boundary is coupled to the physical $ QFT_d $, while the other prescribes a topological boundary condition. The claim is that there is a one-to-one correspondence between topological boundary conditions of the Symmetry TFT and global forms of the QFT. The Symmetry TFT has been developed and verified in various examples, including generalized symmetries and non-invertible symmetries.
For continuous $ U(1) $ symmetries, the Symmetry TFT is a BF theory of gauge fields for group $ R $, as opposed to $ U(1) $. This theory contains a continuum of topological operators and describes the structure of the symmetry, its anomalies, and possible topological manipulations. The authors also propose an operation that maps the Symmetry TFT to another one, which is used to construct the Symmetry TFT for some interesting Abelian gauge theories in four dimensions.
The paper provides several examples, including the Symmetry TFT for the chiral anomaly in two and four dimensions, the Symmetry TFT for a four-dimensional Abelian gauge theory with 2-group symmetry, and a three-dimensional example illustrating interesting phenomena even in the absence of anomalies. The authors also obtain the Symmetry TFT for the non-invertible $ Q/Z $ symmetry that arises from a $ U(1) $ chiral symmetry with ABJ anomaly in four-dimensional Abelian gauge theories.
The Symmetry TFT is constructed using a Lagrangian description in terms of gauge fields for group $ R $. The authors discuss various boundary conditions and their implications for the symmetry and anomalies of the theory. They also show that the Symmetry TFT can be used to describe the dynamical gauging of a $ U(1) $ symmetry, which involves the introduction of a new degree of freedom — the photon — coupled to the theory. This operation is not a topological operation and is not described by a boundary condition in the original TQFT, but rather induces a map between two different Symmetry TFTs.
The paper concludes with a discussion of the Anomaly Polynomial TFT, which is a $ (d+2) $-dimensional TQFT whose $The paper proposes a Symmetry TFT for theories with a continuous $ U(1) $ symmetry in arbitrary dimensions. This TFT describes the structure of the symmetry, its anomalies, and possible topological manipulations. It is constructed as a BF theory of gauge fields for groups $ U(1) $ and $ R $, containing a continuum of topological operators. The authors also propose an operation that produces the Symmetry TFT for the theory obtained by dynamically gauging the $ U(1) $ symmetry. They discuss various examples, including the Symmetry TFT for the non-invertible $ Q/Z $ chiral symmetry in four dimensions.
The Symmetry TFT is a nontrivial $ (d+1) $-dimensional TQFT placed on a slab with two parallel boundaries. One boundary is coupled to the physical $ QFT_d $, while the other prescribes a topological boundary condition. The claim is that there is a one-to-one correspondence between topological boundary conditions of the Symmetry TFT and global forms of the QFT. The Symmetry TFT has been developed and verified in various examples, including generalized symmetries and non-invertible symmetries.
For continuous $ U(1) $ symmetries, the Symmetry TFT is a BF theory of gauge fields for group $ R $, as opposed to $ U(1) $. This theory contains a continuum of topological operators and describes the structure of the symmetry, its anomalies, and possible topological manipulations. The authors also propose an operation that maps the Symmetry TFT to another one, which is used to construct the Symmetry TFT for some interesting Abelian gauge theories in four dimensions.
The paper provides several examples, including the Symmetry TFT for the chiral anomaly in two and four dimensions, the Symmetry TFT for a four-dimensional Abelian gauge theory with 2-group symmetry, and a three-dimensional example illustrating interesting phenomena even in the absence of anomalies. The authors also obtain the Symmetry TFT for the non-invertible $ Q/Z $ symmetry that arises from a $ U(1) $ chiral symmetry with ABJ anomaly in four-dimensional Abelian gauge theories.
The Symmetry TFT is constructed using a Lagrangian description in terms of gauge fields for group $ R $. The authors discuss various boundary conditions and their implications for the symmetry and anomalies of the theory. They also show that the Symmetry TFT can be used to describe the dynamical gauging of a $ U(1) $ symmetry, which involves the introduction of a new degree of freedom — the photon — coupled to the theory. This operation is not a topological operation and is not described by a boundary condition in the original TQFT, but rather induces a map between two different Symmetry TFTs.
The paper concludes with a discussion of the Anomaly Polynomial TFT, which is a $ (d+2) $-dimensional TQFT whose $
[slides and audio] Anomalies and gauging of %0A%3Cmml%3Amath xmlns%3Amml%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1998%2FMath%2FMathML%22%3E%3Cmml%3Amrow%3E%3Cmml%3Ami%3EU%3C%2Fmml%3Ami%3E%3Cmml%3Amo%3E(%3C%2Fmml%3Amo%3E%3Cmml%3Amn%3E1%3C%2Fmml%3Amn%3E%3Cmml%3Amo%3E)%3C%2Fmml%3Amo%3E%3C%2Fmml%3Amrow%3E%3C%2Fmml%3Amath%3E%0A symmetries