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arXiv · 2009.14368

Global 3-group symmetry and 't Hooft anomalies in axion electrodynamics

Yoshimasa Hidaka·Muneto Nitta·Ryo Yokokura
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Abstract

We investigate a higher-group structure of massless axion electrodynamics in $(3+1)$ dimensions. By using the background gauging method, we show that the higher-form symmetries necessarily have a global semistrict 3-group (2-crossed module) structure, and exhibit 't Hooft anomalies of the 3-group. In particular, we find a cubic mixed 't Hooft anomaly between 0-form and 1-form symmetries, which is specific to the higher-group structure.

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Yoshimasa Hidaka, Muneto Nitta, Ryo Yokokura. 2020-09-30. Global 3-group symmetry and 't Hooft anomalies in axion electrodynamics. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep01(2021)173

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