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arXiv · 2108.12564

Global 4-group symmetry and 't Hooft anomalies in topological axion electrodynamics

Yoshimasa Hidaka·Muneto Nitta·Ryo Yokokura
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Abstract

We study higher-form global symmetries and a higher-group structure of a low-energy limit of $(3+1)$-dimensional axion electrodynamics in a gapped phase described by a topological action. We argue that the higher-form symmetries should have a semi-strict 4-group (3-crossed module) structure by consistency conditions of couplings of the topological action to background gauge fields for the higher-form symmetries. We find possible 't Hooft anomalies for the 4-group global symmetry, and discuss physical consequences.

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Yoshimasa Hidaka, Muneto Nitta, Ryo Yokokura. 2021-08-28. Global 4-group symmetry and 't Hooft anomalies in topological axion electrodynamics. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptep/ptab150

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