KEK Theory workshop 2020

Higher-form symmetries and 3-group in axion electrodynamics

15 Dec 2020, 14:30

1h

Online (Zoom)

Invited talks

Speaker

Dr Ryo Yokokura (KEK)

Description

We study higher-form symmetries in a low-energy effective theory of a massless axion coupled with a photon in $(3+1)$ dimensions. It is shown that the higher-form symmetries of this system are accompanied by a semistrict 3-group (2-crossed module) structure, which can be found by the correlation functions of symmetry generators of the higher-form symmetries. We argue that the Witten effect and anomalous Hall effect in the axion electrodynamics can be described in terms of 3-group transformations.

Presentation materials

Ryo_Yokokura_KEK-TH2020.pdf