Aspects of 4d $\mathcal{N}=1$ $ADE$ gauge theories from M-theory: decomposition, automorphisms, and generalised symmetries

Abstract

We study the decomposition of 4d $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories with Lie algebras of type $\mathfrak{su}(N)$, $\mathfrak{so}(2N)$, and $\mathfrak{e}_{6}$, realized via M-theory geometric engineering. These theories, together with their novel decomposition structure, arise from quotienting the Bryant--Salamon spin bundle over the 3-sphere by special finite subgroups acting simultaneously on both the fiber and base. We show that these gauge theories admit both inner and outer automorphisms, enabling sequences of gauge theory breaking. In particular, outer automorphisms extend the decomposition structure to theories with $\mathfrak{so}(2N+1)$, $\mathfrak{sp}(2N)$, $\mathfrak{f}_{4}$, and $\mathfrak{g}_{2}$ gauge algebras. For these theories, including both simply-laced and non-simply-laced cases, we analyze their $p$-form symmetries, including $(-1)$-form symmetries, derive the corresponding SymTFTs, and identify the M-theoretic origin of their symmetry topological operators and defects. Finally, we demonstrate that these gauge theories exhibit modified instanton sums and higher 4-group structures, and we derive the associated topological sector directly from M-theory.