One-Form Symmetries and Confinement
Joey Faller (University of Queensland)
Abstract: Global symmetries, traditionally understood to act on local operators, are a cornerstone of QFT. This talk provides a pedagogical introduction to their generalisation: higher-form symmetries; these act on non-local, extended operators like Wilson lines. We will begin by showing how the concept of a conserved charge can be extended from 0-form to 1-form symmetries and demonstrate that this framework is consistent with Noether's theorem.
In a gauge theory, two principal types of 1-form symmetries can emerge: a 'magnetic' symmetry of topological origin from the Bianchi identity ($dF=0$), and an 'electric' symmetry arising from the dynamical equations of motion. It is this electric 1-form symmetry that provides a novel method to analyse confinement. The primary application of this framework is to show how the status of this 1-form symmetry, whether it is spontaneously broken or preserved, precisely determines whether confinement is present or not.
condensed mattergeneral relativity and quantum cosmologyHEP - theorymathematical physicsdifferential geometry
Audience: advanced learners
( slides )
Europe and Pacific Theoretical Physics
Series comments: European and Pacific Theoretical Physics is a group that runs online seminars and talks across broad topics in mathematical and theoretical physics. Our goal is to share concepts across continents to bring about a deeper understanding of cutting-edge topics in physics.
The talks are informal, and anyone can participate, so please reach out if you would like to present one week!
Extended notes & presentation material are uploaded to "Past talks". Please click on the title of a talk, and then click on "paper" or "slides" to see more. Our focus for 2025 was on Generalised (Categorical) Symmetries, following the lecture notes found here: arxiv.org/pdf/2411.09082.
The reading course seminars are scheduled to resume in 2026. If you would like to present material, please reach out.
Zoom link: unibe-ch.zoom.us/j/6801537904
Talks may be uploaded to YouTube: www.youtube.com/@eupactp
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| Organizers: | Jesse Woods*, Jonathan Skelton*, Adèle Le Borgne, Joey Faller |
| *contact for this listing |