What can we learn from the absence of global symmetries?

Abstract: In this talk I will explain some of the implications that the absence of global symmetries can have for the dynamics of the theory. I will review the reasoning behind the absence of global symmetries in quantum gravity, which is equivalent to requiring the absence of non-trivial topologocial operators. I will then explain how many string theory features can be derived from this statement, including completeness of the charge spectra, the existence of localised worldvolume degrees of freedom on defects and the presence of axions.

MathematicsPhysics

Audience: researchers in the topic

Symmetry Seminar

Series comments: Weekly seminar on generalized symmetries in QFT, string theory and related topics.